Teams: Volleyball: Press Releases

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

FIVE HONORED AS ALL-NESCAC VOLLEYBALL TEAMS ANNOUNCED

MEDFORD – Following one of the best seasons in their history, the honors have started rolling in for the Tufts University Volleyball squad. The 2004 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) teams were announced on Wednesday and five Jumbos were recognized.

In a vote by the conference's 11 head coaches, sophomore outside hitter Kelli Harrison (Blue Jay, CA/Rim of the World) was selected to the First Team, while senior libero Emily Macy (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) and junior middle blocker Courtney Evans (Bellaire, TX/Episcopal) were named to the Second Team. The Jumbos also took two year-end honors as third-year head coach Cora Thompson was voted Coach of the Year and freshman Kay Lutostanski (Houston, TX/Saint Agnes Academy) was chosen Rookie of the Year.

Tufts finished second in NESCAC with a 9-1 mark in the regular season, second in the NESCAC Tournament behind four-time champion Williams College and second in the final New England Division III rankings. The Jumbos were 28-6 overall, matching the 1995 team's record for victories in a season.

Harrison was a force on offense and a consistent contributor defensively for the Jumbos all season. Through November 8, she ranked ninth in NESCAC with a .309 hitting percentage and ninth in kills with 3.38 per game. She hit .332 with 3.03 kills per game in 10 conference matches. Harrison, the NESCAC Player of the Week on October 4, was also second on the squad with 3.55 digs per game. This is the second straight year that Harrison has been recognized as First Team All-NESCAC.

Macy was the floor general and defensive leader of the Jumbos. Changing to a defensive role after finishing second on the team in kills last year, she finished with a career-high 491 digs for a 4.27 average. She also was key to the team's transition from defense to offense with successful pass attempts that helped the Jumbos finish third in the league in both hitting percentage (.266) and assists (11.78 per game).

Evans, an honorable mention All-American pick last fall, followed up with a strong junior season. She was third in NESCAC with 1.25 blocks per game as the Jumbos lead the conference with 3.09 per game overall. Evans blocked 1.52 per game in 10 NESCAC matches. She was also tops on the team with 54 service aces and was second with 236 kills.

Lutostanski, one of several freshmen who contributed to the Jumbos' success this season, led the Tufts first-year contributors with 151 kills and 2.07 per game. She had 12 kills in the team's 3-2 victory over Amherst in the NESCAC Tournament semi-finals.

Thompson, a 1999 Tufts graduate who played on the Jumbos' 1996 NCAA Tournament team, led Tufts to one of its most successful seasons this fall. Tufts had winning streaks of 16 and seven matches. Three of their six losses came against Williams, ranked 24th nationally. The Jumbos beat Amherst twice after losing 12 straight to the Jeffs in previous seasons.

Williams College senior Robin Young was named NESCAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. The Ephs placed four players on the two teams, followed by the Jumbos with three and Amherst and Colby with two.

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