Teams: Volleyball: Schedule & Results

WILLIAMS WINS NESCAC TITLE IN THREE SETS OVER TUFTS

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL FINAL SCORE
NESCAC Championship Final
Williams 3, Tufts 0 (25-19, 29-27, 32-30)

At Medford, MA
Sunday, November 8, 2009

Match Statistics

Tufts captains Dena Feiger (left) and Brogie Helgeson receive the conference runner-up plaque from Tufts Senior Woman Administrator Branwen Smith-King

MEDFORD -- Williams College won its third consecutive NESCAC volleyball title on Sunday afternoon, defeating Tufts University in straight sets on the Jumbos home court. The Ephs have now won seven of the last nine conference championships, as the second-seed defeated #1 seed Tufts 25-19, 29-27, and 32-30 in three closely contested games.

Williams, who played a fairly mistake-free afternoon, opened up with a 15-10 lead thanks to aces from seniors Andrea Scioscia (Gibsonia, PA) and captain Chelsea Kubal (Atherton, CA). Junior Kate Anderson (Berlin, MA) added a big block and an early kill to pace the Ephs. Anderson blocked four balls and led the Ephs with 18 kills in the championship match. The Jumbos pulled to within two points at 18-16, but could not make up any more ground than that. Despite several good digs by Tufts junior Nancy Shrodes (Manhattan Beach, CA), the visitors went on to grabb an early lead.

The home team tried to seize control of the second set with the help of Caitlin Updike (Manhattan Beach, CA). The junior outside hitter contributed three kills and two consecutive aces as the Jumbos held a slim early advantage. Behind the blocking prowess of Nicole Ballon-Landa (La Jolla, CA), the Ephs powered back and tied the game at 17 and then again at 24. Ballon-Landa helped on three of her six blocks in the second game, none bigger than the one which gave the Ephs a 28-27 lead. The junior middle blocker also added 10 kills on the afternoon. Two great digs by senior Whitney Hitchcock (Penfield, NY) set up Ballon-Landa for a kill which sealed a 29-27 victory and put the Ephs up two sets to zero. Tufts senior Brogie Helgeson (Santa Cruz, CA) dug 11 balls in the match, and added four of her seven kills in the second set, but Kubal had answers to keep Williams in the game. Kubal notched 10 kills and also dug out 18 balls for Williams on the afternoon. Sophomore Aly McKinnon (Potola Valley, CA) added two aces in the second-set victory for the Ephs.

Tufts got off on the right foot in the third game, snatching a five-point advantage with early kills from junior Dawson Joyce-Mendive (Minden, NV). She killed seven balls in the third set, en route to a 23-kill day. Updike added seven kills in the final game as well, slamming 17 of them in the match. The Jumbos got several great digs from first year Natalie Bruck (Iverness, IL), who came off the bench to dig 12 balls for Tufts, and the home-team was a point away from getting back into the match with a 24-21 lead. Late in the third set, however, Williams Anderson came alive, and five late kills for the junior allowed the Ephs to tie the game at 24. Joyce-Mendive and Anderson continued to battle for their teams, but Tufts was unable to finish off the game despite gaining the advantage point five times in a row. Williams finally got their necks in front and were able to capitalize on a Tufts serving error by closing the door on a 32-30 victory.

Williams junior Eleanor Levine (Atlanta, GA) and Ballon-Landa each added multiple kills in the third set. Williams efficiency ticked through junior setter Emily Avis (Palo Alto, CA), who logged 46 assists in the championship victory. Tufts setter Dena Feiger (Long Grove, IL) hit exactly the 50-assist plateau, and libero Audrey Kuan (Los Altos, CA) led the Jumbos with 27 digs in defeat.

The Ephs (21-8), nine-time NESCAC champs overall, will receive an automatic bid to next weekends NCAA regional, which Tufts will host. The Jumbos (28-4) are expected to receive an at-large bid to the tournament.

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