Teams: Volleyball: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS SWEEP BRIDGEWATER AND BOWDOIN IN MIT INVITATIONAL POOL PLAY

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL FINAL SCORES
MIT Invitational
Tufts 3, Bridgewater St. 0  (25-17, 25-9, 25-13)
Tufts 3, Bowdoin 0  (25-17, 25-19, 25-23)

At Medford, MA
Friday, September 25, 2009

Bridgewater St. Match Statistics

Bowdoin Match Statistics

Dena Feiger averaged 11 assists per set against Bowdoin

MEDFORD -- Despite scares at the beginning and end of the evening, the Tufts University volleyball team extended its winning streak to nine games with two straight-set victories on Friday night at Cousens Gym. The Jumbos beat Bridgewater State (25-17, 25-9, 25-13) and Bowdoin (25-17, 25-19, 25-23) in their first two rounds of the MIT Volleyball Invitational tournament.

Tufts (9-1) now advances to play in the Championship Bracket at MIT on Saturday. The Jumbos will face Connecticut College at noon, with the winner going to the championship match against either Williams or Wesleyan at 4:00 pm. Tufts defeated the Camels in a NESCAC match 3-0 last Saturday.

Tufts looked shaky in their first set against Bridgewater State, and trailed early by scores of 4-1 and 8-3 until they pulled off a four-point run to get back in to the game. The teams exchanged points three times, and twice Tufts pulled to within one on kills by senior co-captain Brogie Helgeson (Santa Cruz, CA) before taking the lead on a Bridgewater error and a block by Helgeson. Once the Jumbos took the lead, they never looked back, closing the game with a 13-3 run.

After blowing an early lead, Bridgewater State could never seem to get their rhythm back. Tufts jumped out to leads of 7-1 and 12-5 in the second set, and Bridgewater State did not help themselves with unforced errors. A crucial point saw a towering block by Tufts junior Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA) followed by a great dig by sophomore libero Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA). Updike finished the point with a kill, making the score 22-8, and putting the game out of reach. Updike contributed several crucial kills in game three, while Helgeson contributed a block and an ace en route to a 25-13 win.

Updike and Helgeson each had nine kills in the match, to co-lead the Jumbos. Kuan's 10 digs and four block assists by sophomore Lexi Nicholas (San Diego, CA) led the defensive effort. Nicholas also had eight kills, as did first-year Kiersten Ellefsen (Goshen, NY). Brianne Cobb (New Bedford, MA) was a bright spot for Bridgewater State. The senior libero threw herself around the court all match, and led the Bears with nine digs. Cobb also added one of only two aces for Bridgewater State (2-6), while Natalie Cohen (Marstons Mills, MA) led the team with 16 assists.

Tufts was tested only slightly more by the Polar Bears of Bowdoin (6-3). The Jumbos took an early advantage thanks to a seven-point run served by junior Nancy Shrodes (Manhattan Beach, CA). She capped off the rally with Tufts' only ace of the first game, which finished in a 25-17 Tufts win.

The rest of the match saw productivity from several Jumbos, particularly junior Dawson Joyce-Mendive (Minden, NV). The outside hitter was a force in sets two and three, contributing a team high 14 kills overall, including one to squash a Bowdoin comeback attempt and finish off the 25-19 second game.

Trying to finish off the match, Tufts struggled and looked like they might drop a game. A strong net game by Bowdoin had given Tufts troubles all night, led by junior Stephanie Drumright (San Francisco, CA), who had three blocks and seven kills, and senior Kelsey Howe (Sandy, UT) with two blocks. Drumright and Howe were pesky in the frontcourt all night, and forced Tufts into killing some balls long or wide. The Jumbos depended on a 10-2 run and escaped with a 25-23 victory to complete their perfect night.

Senior co-captain Dena Feiger (Long Grove, IL) tallied 33 assists in the match for the Jumbos. The senior setter had the offense clicking efficiently and kept them in many long points. Updike added eight kills to the Tufts attack. Jumbo servers tallied four aces against Bowdoin, two by Helgeson. She also had 13 digs to lead Tufts in that category, while junior Erica Lokken (Houston, TX) was in on four blocks (two solo).

Senior Gillian Page (Mercer Island, WA) led the Polar Bears with 20 digs and nine kills.

Tufts is the defending champion of the MIT Invitational after beating Connecticut College in the 2008 final, and is trying to return to the championship match for the fourth year in a row.

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