Back-and-Forth Sets Take Volleyball to the Semifinals

MEDFORD, MA - Williams College (12-10, 5-5 NESCAC) secured a close victory against Tufts (13-10, 7-3 NESCAC) 3-2. In their previous match this season, the Ephs fell to the Jumbos 3-1.

The Ephs made a powerful open with three blocks early on, compiling an 8-3 lead. Two more kills finally coerced a Tufts timeout, but the momentum wouldn't subside: Williams carried through an astonishing three more blocks, where Chi Obi achieved two blocks including a solo block. Though the Ephs had a confident lead 17-8, the Jumbos executed a 6-point run, exploiting Williams in an unsuspecting state with two aces and a block. Keely Campuzano achieved two timely back-to-back kills to force a timeout 20-16. With a kill and an ace, Campuzano bolstered a 4-point run, and a final kill by Chi Obi gave Williams the first set 25-20.

The second set saw Tufts seize an opening advantage, where after a few trade offs, four service aces totaled a 6-point run for the Jumbos. After a Williams timeout, two Ephs blocks were met with two Tufts blocks, but then Morgan Daetz who successfully set all of her options and performed an ace coerced a nervous Jumbos timeout, now up only one point. After several net-equal exchanges, Tufts secured another strong run to bring the set 22-18. The Jumbos were ultimately able to close out the set quickly, following three more kills 25-19. 

In the third set, the Ephs caught on to a Tufts team who were off-tempo; two attack errors transposed into a four point run led by Kami Israelski's serve who achieved two aces and brought the set 6-1. Chi Obi brought two more points with two quick consecutive kills, but a five point run by the Jumbos was able to tie the set. Another five point run was immediately orchestrated by the Ephs with Tatum Baker who served two aces and Chi Obi who got a block and a kill. Tufts eventually called a timeout 16-12, and then a few Williams-dominated exchanges forced another timeout 21-15. The Jumbos were able to pull through 6-points, but their deficit was too large, and after a few errors and a put-down by Tatum Baker, the Ephs successfully won the third set 25-21.

Tufts came into the fourth set re-energized and striking hard, through five kills and a service ace to create a strong lead 6-1, and force an incredibly early, nervous timeout by Williams. Both teams traded off kills rather evenly, but then the Ephs came to meet their score at nine, led by Sidra Wohlwend's serve with a 5-point run: two blocks, a kill, an error, and an ace. After some back and forth, three Jumbo errors turned the tides for the first time in the set, also prompting a timeout. With the match increasingly on the line, Tufts was able to generate a much needed four point run to lead 17-16, and after a few more exchanges, began trailing off with their lead 21-18 and forced a timeout. In the end, the Jumbos kept swinging successfully, and while committing two errors, were able to clinch the fourth set 25-21.

In the last set of this back-and-forth battle of a match, both teams delivered all their effort. A lucky service error provided the Ephs with their first point, and a confident block gave them their next. Now tied 2-2, the first round of momentum in the set was achieved by Williams, especially Annaliese Fricke, who delivered a kill and assisted in a block to create a three point run. In the next period, a consistent one-to-one exchange was sustained for many points, including a perfectly executed setter dump by Morgan Daetz. Two kills by the Ephs forced a timeout 11-8, following an off-system kill by Annaliese Fricke asisted by Sidra Wohlwend. Though Williams managed to create yet another powerful block, Tufts slipped through a 3-point run which called on a timeout 12-12. Keely Campuzano stepped up for her team, delivering a crucial kill followed by an incredibly relieving ace, and the last point of the match was an error committed by the Jumbos awarding the Ephs victory.

A happy Eph head coach Christi Kelsey provided her comments on the game and looking into the rest of the NESCAC playoffs: "I mean, honestly I'm not sure I can find enough of the right words to describe just how proud we are of our team tonight! They showed such amazing heart and resilience and also executed at a high level too! 

"Credit to Tufts as they really stepped up and kept making us work for every point. Really awesome fight from both teams which is what NESCAC volleyball is all about!

"Overall such an incredible win with key contributions from everyone on the court and just as important, our amazing bench and their energy! Very much looking forward to the opportunity to keep competing next weekend!"

Williams will play next Friday, November 15th, against Colby College in Waterville, Maine in the NESCAC Semifinals.