Teams: Volleyball: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS GET REVENGE ON UMASS BOSTON WITH 3-2 VICTORY

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 3, UMass Boston 2  (25-22, 19-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12)

At Medford, MA
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Match Statistics

Caitin Updike's 20 kills led the Jumbos offensively

MEDFORD -- A double-digit winning streak was on the line Tuesday night as the Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts Boston volleyball teams met at Cousens Gymnasium. The Jumbos came from behind to beat UMass in a five-set struggle, avenging their only loss of the season and ending the Beacon's 13-game string of victories.

UMass had beaten Tufts in five at Brandeis in the Jumbo's first contest of the year on September 11. The Beacons entered tonight's play having gone seven straight games without dropping a set. Tufts has now won 12 straight matches, including a nearly unblemished march through the MIT Invitational Tournament last weekend.

Tufts got off to a quick start against the Beacons, jumping out to a 12-9 lead in the first set before UMass was able to record a kill. The home team got kills from six different players in the first set, including four each from juniors Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Dawson Joyce-Mendive (Minden, NV). Junior Erica Lokken (Houston, TX) contributed a big block and a crucial kill late to put the game beyond reach, sealing a 25-22 victory for the Jumbos.

The Beacons tandem of outside hitter Kate McWhorter (Bakersfield, CA) and middle hitter Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, CA) started to give the Jumbos fits in the second and third sets. Thompson contributed six kills and a big block in the second game en route to a 25-19 victory for UMB. McWhorter pitched in five kills of her own, including one to end the game. Each player also served an ace, the first two of the evening for either side.

The Beacons rode their momentum into the third game, squelching a late comeback to win 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead in sets. Thompson was key again for the Beacons, collecting some of her team-leading 18 digs and seven blocks. She would also finish the night with 15 kills, second on the team to McWhorter's 22.

Facing the prospect of another loss at the hands of UMass, Tufts dug in and emphatically hammered out a fourth game victory. Senior co-captain Brogie Helgeson (Santa Cruz, CA) dove for two ridiculous digs to save one point, and the Jumbos went on a five-point run to gain the lead at 10-5. They would never look back in the game, building their advantage to 20-15, before exchanging points with UMass to settle on a 25-19 victory and force a decisive fifth contest.

It looked as though their effort might fall short when UMass jumped out to an 11-9 lead, forcing Tufts to call a timeout, but the Jumbos came out of the break and tied the game. After exchanging points, the Jumbos clinched the game thanks to a block and two huge kills by Helgeson, and a critical hitting error by UMass Boston. The 15-12 victory gave the Jumbos the win in a closely contested match.

Neither team is sure to be happy with the consistency and cleanness of their play throughout the night. The Beacons scored most of their points in the first game on Tufts mistakes. Service errors were also an abundant problem on both sides, and greatly aided in Tufts' comeback late in the match.

UMass Boston sophomore setter Cassy Hanneman (Denver, CO) contributed 50 assists, while Tufts setter Dena Feiger (Long Grove, IL) had another phenomenal game. The senior co-captain efficiently tallied 52 assists on 135 attempts for the Jumbos. Sophomore libero Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA) led Tufts with 26 digs.

The Jumbos prepare to host their own invitational starting Friday with matches against Union and Hiram. UMass Boston is off until next Tuesday (Oct. 6) when they will play at Endicott.

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