Teams: Women's Volleyball: Press Releases

Monday, September 29, 2008

UPDIKE LEADS TUFTS TO FIRST MIT INVITATIONAL WIN, EARNS NESCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University volleyball team is off to the best start in its history at 13-0, and the Jumbos are coming off an outstanding five-win week. Sophomore Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA) was at the center of the team's success, earning New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week honors.

Tufts won the MIT Invitational for the first time over the weekend, defeating good teams from Colby, Wellesley, Springfield and Connecticut College. Updike was voted as the Tournament MVP after recording double-digit kills in each match. The Jumbos won the title in a five-set match against Connecticut College after coming back from a 2-0 deficit. Updike finished the match with 20 kills and just two errors in 46 attempts, while adding 16 digs defensively. She hit at a .409 rate with 11 kills and only two errors in 22 attempts against Colby on Friday night, a match that was both a NESCAC contest and the MIT opener for Tufts.

The Jumbos had defeated Brandeis University earlier in the week at home. For the five matches, Updike averaged 3.59 kills per set and had a .345 hitting percentage. She added 27 digs and three blocks. She hit at better than a .300 percentage in four of the five matches. Updike is the second Jumbo to win the NESCAC award this season, following teammate Kate Denniston (Tarzana, CA).

Updike was also selected as the ECAC New England Division III Co-Player of the Week with Springfield's Heather Lively.

Coach Cora Thompson's Jumbos took a big step up in the regional spotlight with the wins last week. The Jumbos host their own invitational this weekend at Cousens Gym.

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