Teams: Volleyball: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS OPEN RENOVATED COUSENS GYMNASIUM WITH 3-1 VICTORY AGAINST WESLEYAN

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 3, Wesleyan 1 (25-19, 25-15, 24-26, 25-21)

At Medford, MA
Friday, September 18, 2009

Match Statistics

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University volleyball team christened the newly renovated Cousens Gymnasium with a 3-1 victory over Wesleyan University in a NESCAC match on Friday night.

The Jumbos came charging out of the gate in their "new" home, scoring wins by scores of 25-19 and 25-15 in the first two sets. In the first, they trailed 10-9 early and a 5-0 run gave them a 14-10 lead that they would not relinquish. An 11-5 margin in the second game after four straight Tufts points later turned into a 16-9 advantage on an ace by junior Nancy Shrodes (Manhattan Beach, CA). The Jumbos led comfortably the rest of the way.

Tufts was cruising towards a sweep in the third game, up 22-16. However, Wesleyan scored the last nine points of the match to take a 26-24 victory. The fourth game was tight, but three consecutive Jumbo points opened a 20-16 lead and the hosts went on to a 25-21 win to clinch the match.

The Jumbos were paced by 13 kills from junior Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA) with 13 kills and just one error in 37 attempts, and classmate Dawson Joyce-Mendive (Minden, NV) was equally effective with 11 kills and one error in 30 swings. Along with 36 assists from senior co-captain Dena Feiger (Long Grove, IL), the Jumbos got two service aces from junior Kelly Engelking (Westborough, MA). Feiger was also a leader for the Jumbo "D" with five blocks (two solo), while sophomore Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA) contributed 14 digs.

Sophomore Casey Reed (Manhattan Beach, CA) led the Cardinals offensively with 12 kills. Sophomore Alissa Santucci (Syosset, NY) added 11 digs and scored three points on service aces. Senior co-captain Ellie Healey (Manhattan Beach, CA) had 34 assists at setter. On defense for Wes, junior Ruby Hernandez (West Palm Beach, FL) recorded 16 digs, Healey had 13 and Reed finished with 12.

The court at Cousens, which opened originally in 1932, was rotated 90 degrees during the summer and several other enhancements were made to bring the arena up to modern standards.

Photos by Donald R. Megerle

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