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MEDFORD, MA - The Williams
College volleyball team (23-9) suffered a heartbreaking 3-0 (16-25,
16-25, 23-25) loss to the Tufts Jumbos in the 2009 NCAA New England
Regional Championship. This is the first time that Tufts has ever
made it to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
The Jumbos hit the ground running at the start
matches one and two, jumping to an 8-3 lead over the Ephs in both
sets. Game one proved to be a tough one for the Ephs, who amassed
only sixteen points in the set. Game two saw much better play from
the team as they bounced back from the deficit. With a much-needed
kill from junior Nicole Ballon-Landa, the Ephs brought the score up
to a close 8-6.
Although they ultimately fell short of a win, they managed to keep
the Jumbos on their toes for the rest of the match.
After an intense pep talk from head coach
Christi Kelsey, the Ephs forged into game three with rejuvenated
energy. Senior Whitney Hitchcock smashed one down for the Ephs to
earn the first point of game three, followed by a quick kill from
junior Eleanor Levine on a Jumbos overpass on point two. The Ephs
seemed poised to take game three from Tufts and force a four game
match.
Sophomore Aly McKinnon provided consistent
service for Williams as they pushed to an early lead. The teams
battled each other from point to point, leveling out at 2-2, 3-3,
13-13, 14-14, and 16-16. Neither team was ready to accept defeat
without a fight.
Perhaps the most intense moment in game three
came when the Ephs were down 23-19. After receiving an assist from
junior setter Emily Avis, junior Kate Anderson (who totaled 13
kills in the match) fired down a cross-court kill to bring the
score to 23-20. She killed the ball for two more consecutive points
before the Tufts coach was compelled to call a timeout at 23-22.
Anderson's hot streak gave the Ephs the hope that they could
stay in competition. However, the Jumbos would not let the match
carry on to four games, outplaying the Ephs to a 25-23 victory.
Tonight's loss is merely a blemish in an
otherwise successful season for the Ephs. “It's been a
wonderful season,” says head coach Christi Kelsey.
“Tufts had a great match tonight. We were a little slow from
the beginning today, but overall it has been a tremendous run for
us.”
Coach also paid special tribute to seniors
Hitchcock, Melissa Pun, Chelsea Kubal, and Andrea Scioscia, who
will sadly bid the team farewell at the end of this year. “A
big thank you goes out to our seniors who had a great four years at
Williams. They will be missed.”
As for next season, the Ephs have much to look
forward to. “We will take some time to reflect then map out a
plan for next year but it's been a wonderful season!”
