The volleyball team's 2010 season has been an emotional roller coaster.
The Jumbos had a rocky start, losing senior quad−captain Dawson Joyce−Mendive to a knee injury in early August and dropping their first two matches at the season−opening Emory Invitational. But then Tufts hit its stride, reeling off 10 straight wins and setting a new team record for consecutive sets won along the way.
Tufts on Oct. 8 sat at 5−0 in the NESCAC — the clear favorites to repeat as regular−season champions. Yet in the span of six days, the Jumbos' hopes of repeating as conference tournament hosts were dashed as they dropped road matches to Amherst, Middlebury and Bowdoin, and the team's most dynamic offensive performer, senior quad−captain Caitlin Updike, fractured her left ankle after falling awkwardly on a net post. The sight of the twin pillars Updike and Joyce−Mendive both holding clipboards on the bench was enough to make any Jumbos fan queasy.
But playing this weekend in its first two home games in three weeks, Tufts got back into the win column in thrilling fashion, prevailing over Williams in five sets and crushing Hamilton in three. And as the topsy−turvy ride comes to a close, it looks like Tufts is gaining momentum heading into the postseason.
"It took a while for us to establish our identity, but after this weekend, I don't think that we'll struggle with our mental game any more," junior Lexi Nicholas said. "Both the upper− and lowerclassmen have had to develop some grit lately."
The Jumbos swept the Continentals on Saturday, shutting down their attack with 56 digs and seven blocks. But the real drama came on Friday night as Updike played through pain to lead Tufts with 23 digs against Williams.
"Yeah I felt [the pain], but after losing so many in a row, I needed to be out there," Updike said. "At this point I have to pick and choose which matches to play, and it sure helped that Friday we were playing Williams."
The Jumbos found themselves down two sets to one against the Ephs, who entered the match with a 5−1 NESCAC record and the top hitting percentage in the league. In grave danger of losing their fourth straight match, the Jumbos jumped on the Ephs early in the ensuing two frames, which included an 11−point service run by junior libero Audrey Kuan to open the decisive set; Kuan is also an online editor for the Daily.
Tufts prevailed in the fifth 15−8, and though the match was not always pretty — Tufts hit at .190, well below their season average — the team's 80 digs were the most that it has had in any NESCAC game this season.
During the match with the Ephs, the Jumbos relied on the confidence they have built in the two teams' recent history. The Jumbos have now taken two matches from the Ephs this season and six of the last seven meetings dating back to 2009.
"Williams is our favorite team to beat," junior Cara Spieler, who had double−digit kills and digs against the Ephs, said. "By now we know their strategies, we know who their hitters are. We know that they run a lot of slides, and we can read their setter."
Coach Cora Thompson rested Updike against Hamilton, and Tufts' leading killer may not be back to full strength in time for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament. But Thompson is confident that the team's deep bench can pick up the slack.
"We have the most talented bench in New England," Thompson said. "Without Caitlin we'll have to keep more points alive, but there are so many people that can step up and be part of our balanced offense, whether that's [senior quad−captain Nancy Shrodes] and [senior quad−captain Kelly Engelking] on the outside or Lexi and Cara in the middle."
On Saturday, it was Engelking who led the charge with 12 kills, and on Friday, Tufts' most efficient hitter was Nicholas, who had 13 kills on 23 attempts for a dominating .522 percentage. The two victories give Tufts a 7−3 NESCAC record, which could yield anything from a No. 2 to No. 5 seed, come tournament time.
For now, though, the team's focus is on Wednesday's Senior Night matchup with Endicott — a dangerous non−conference team that this season knocked off Middlebury in five sets. Updike hopes to get the swelling in her ankle down in time for the seniors' final game at Cousens Gym, and even if she's not at her best, her teammates are feeling good about their chances to extend the team's winning streak to three.
"Of course we want to win it for our seniors," Nicholas said. "We'll get the job done."
