Teams: Volleyball: Press Releases

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

HARRISON, WYSHAM NAMED ALL-NESCAC IN VOLLEYBALL

MEDFORD – Senior outside hitter Kelli Harrison (Blue Jay, CA/Rim of the World) and junior middle blocker Katie Wysham (Spokane, WA/St. Georges School) of the Tufts University volleyball team were voted by the coaches in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) as members of the 2006 All-Conference teams announced today.

Harrison returned to the All-NESCAC First Team this season after a year hiatus. Selected to the First Team as a freshman in 2003 and as a sophomore in 2004, Harrison is second in the conference in kills per game this fall with a 4.32 average. She took it up a notch in NESCAC matches, averaging 4.8 kills per game. Her .254 hitting percentage was also top 10, and she contributed in a major way defensively with 3.63 digs per game that were second on the Jumbos. Her 32 service aces were also second on the team as she led the Jumbos with her all-around game.

Wysham was a towering force at the net for Tufts in 2006, recording one of the best blocking seasons in team history. She ranks second in NESCAC with 1.34 blocks per game for a total of 147. She was even better in NESCAC, blocking 1.56 balls per game. Wysham was also one of the league's better offensive players, and is currently sixth in the conference with her .281 hitting percentage. She finished the season with 321 kills for an average of 2.92 per game. Also a very effective server, her 35 aces led the team.

Tufts fell short of its expectations in 2006 primarily due to injuries, including one to Harrison that prevented her from playing in the NESCAC Tournament. It was an unfortunate end to a great career. The Jumbos lost to Connecticut College in the first round, 3-2, finishing their season with a 23-8 record.

The Jumbos also played most of the season without sophomore Caitlin Dealy (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara), an All-Second second teamer in 2005. Junior setter Kaitlin O'Reilly (Manhattan Beach, CA/Marymount) also missed the final four matches, including the NESCAC Tournament.

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