Teams: Volleyball: Press Releases

Monday, October 21, 2002
Written by Julie Fox

CRONIN EARNS NESCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

MEDFORD - Tufts University junior Amy Cronin (Kirkland, WA/Interlake) earned New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week honors for her dominating performances in volleyball this past week. Cronin led the Jumbos to a 2-1 record at last weekend's NESCAC Weekend at Colby College, including a huge 3-0 victory over second-place Colby. The Jumbos finished their NESCAC schedule with a 6-4 record and are seeded sixth in the NESCAC tournament.

Cronin led the Jumbos in kills in all three matches played. Against fourth-place Bates College on Friday, a 3-1 loss, Cronin had 16 kills, 11 digs, and three blocks. Against Bowdoin College on Saturday, a dominating 3-1 win, she had 11 kills, three service aces, and four digs. Cronin had perhaps her most well-rounded match against Colby, with 12 kills, five aces, three digs, two blocks, and an assist in a 3-0 win. Cronin totaled 39 kills on the weekend and posted a 39.5% hitting percentage, well above her season percentage of 30.2-percent.

With the 2002 graduation of four-time All-NESCAC selection Jessica Stewart, now the assistant coach, Cronin has been forced to step up her game. After recording 2.386 kills per game her freshman year and 2.342 kills per game her sophomore year, she has been outstanding so far this season. She leads the team with 3.471 kills per game, which ranks fifth in the NESCAC. She also leads the team with 0.51 service aces per game and is second on the team with 0.91 blocks per game, which ranks ninth in the NESCAC. Her 30.2% hitting percentage is good enough for ninth in the NESCAC as well. She also has stepped up her defense, recording four more digs (160) so far this season than she recorded all of last season.

Head Coach Cora Thompson's team is currently 16-9 overall. The team has two home matches left against Brandeis (Oct. 22) and Clark (Oct. 31), as well as the Hall of Fame Tournament at Smith and Mount Holyoke this weekend. The team will start NESCAC tournament play at Williams College on Friday, November 8 against third-seeded Amherst College.

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