Teams: Volleyball: Schedule & Results

TUFTS OPENS HOME INVITATIONAL WITH WINS OVER UNION & HIRAM

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL FINAL SCORES
Tufts Invitational
Tufts 3, Union 0  (25-23, 25-15, 25-14)
Tufts 3, Hiram 1  (25-27, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19)

At Medford, MA
Friday, October 2, 2009

Union Match Statistics

Hiram Match Statistics

Lexi Nicholas had 11 kills with no errors against Union

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University volleyball team extended its winning streak to 14 games Friday night, sweeping the first two rounds of their own weekend tournament at Cousens Gym. Tufts beat Union College in straight sets, and then outlasted Hiram College in a four-set nightcap.

Union was pesky in the first game of their match, taking an early 11-9 lead. Tufts tied the set at 20 and escaped with a 25-23 victory thanks to a service error by the Dutchwomen and two kills by senior co-captain Brogie Helgeson (Santa Cruz, CA). Junior Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA) contributed five kills in the first-set victory, while sophomore Lexi Nicholas (San Diego, CA) added three. The two would go on to co-lead the Jumbos against Union with 11 kills each.

Union couldn't seem to muster the same offensive firepower in the second and third sets, and the Jumbos had less difficulty winning contests by scores of 25-15 and 25-14. Junior Erica Lokken (Houston, TX) served an ace in each of the last two games for the Jumbos, and added four kills overall. Setter Dena Feiger (Long Grove, IL) dug out ten balls for the Jumbos and set up 32 points. The 5'6" senior also added an ace in set three, which Tufts closed out on a five-point run.

Eve Richards (Schenectady, NY) pitched in two kills in each set to lead the Dutchwomen. The Union sophomore also dug six balls. Jordan Remillard (Camillus, NY) and Bridget Little (Glenville, NY) each contributed four kills and three blocks, while junior Erika VanValkenburg (Baldwinsville, NY) led the Dutchwomen with 24 assists. Veronica Mynders (Greenville, NY) led Union with 12 digs and served their only ace of the match.

Tufts had difficulty with a strong Hiram team in their evening contest. A back and forth first set saw Hiram take a 23-22 lead. After exchanging points that sent the match to extras, the Terriers edged out a 25-27 victory thanks to a key block by senior Randa Jackson (South Euclid, OH) and first-year Ariel Pund (Macedonia, OH).

Thanks to several Hiram errors, Tufts took a 7-0 lead in the second game. They built that lead to 14-4, and then 18-5. With the set seemingly out of hand, sophomore Andrea Kaminsky (Canton, OH) blocked two key points in a row, in the midst of a nine-point run by Hiram. Kaminsky would contribute four blocks on the night, to go with nine digs.

Updike finally stopped the Terrier run with one of her team-high 17 kills in the match, allowing the Jumbos to reclaim momentum. Another timely kill by Updike sealed a 25-22 victory.

In game three, Updike served two aces in a row, and the Jumbos went on a 9-1 run en route to a 25-19 finish. Junior Dawson Joyce-Mendive (Minden, NV) added three of her 11 kills, and some of the best of sophomore Audrey Kuan's (Los Altos, CA) 21 digs helped the Jumbos gain the upper hand.

In game four, it looked as though the match was destined to go the distance when the Terriers jumped out to a 9-3 lead. Hiram middle hitter Kristi Opfer (Garrettsville, OH) had two kills in game four (to go with two in each of the first two games), but the home team was able to climb back into the contest. First-year Brittany Neff (Culver City, CA) came off the bench and served two consecutive aces in the final set, in which she also added a block and a kill. Feiger had a solid match in the middle, reaching the 40-assist plateau on the night, and Tufts was able to claim a 25-19 victory, capping off a 3-1 match win.

Setter Alyssa Coundourides (Brunswick, OH) led Hiram with 25 assists. The 5'5" junior also pitched in with 13 digs, second to the 18 from senior Charley McQueary (Oregon, OH). Terrier Sophomore Shaina Bryan (South Euclid, OH) led the team with 10 kills.

The Jumbos (14-1), Union, now 10-10 on the season, and the Terriers (10-6) will resume competition Saturday afternoon, as they are joined by five other teams for the conclusion of the Tufts Invitational Tournament in Medford. Tufts, MIT and Keene State College enter Saturday with 2-0 records in the tournament.

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