Volleyball Falls to Tufts University in NCAA Tournament Action

MEDFORD, Mass. -- The #2 seed and host Tufts University Jumbos earned a sweep, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-13), over the #7 seed Bridgewater State College Bears in a first round match of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship on Thursday evening at the New England Regional inside Cousens Gymnasium.

Bridgewater State jumped out to the early lead in the first set as they held a four-point advantage at 9-5.  The set stayed closed as there were five ties, including at 11, 13, 14 and 16 apiece.  The Jumbos built their largest lead of the set at 22-18, and then the Bears got to within two points at 23-21 and then 24-22.  Tufts was able to tally the final point for the first set win, 25-22.

The second set was all Jumbos, as the Bears never held a lead, and the set was only tied once at 1-1.  The Jumbos had an early seven-point lead at 14-7, and eventually cruised on for the 25-13 set victory and the two sets to none lead.

The beat continued in the third set as Bridgewater State's only lead came at 1-0, and after Tufts broke a 2-2 tie, they never looked back.  Once again they had an early seven-point lead, this time at 15-8 en route to another 25-13 set win to earn the 3-0 match victory.

Sophomore Dawson Joyce-Mendive (Minden, NV) led the Jumbos with 11 kills, while seniors Natalie Goldstein (Piedmont, CA) and Stacy Filocco (Olney, MD) tallied 11 and 10 digs respectively.  Junior Dena Feiger (Long Grove, IL) was match-leader in assists with 33. Tufts hit at an impressive .348 for the match, including eight kills and no errors by junior Brogie Helgeson (Santa Cruz, CA).

Bridgewater State was paced by eight digs and eight kills from junior Alyssa Grimes (Acushnet, MA).  Freshman Shelly DePina (New Bedford, MA) added a team-high nine kills while sophomore Natalie Cohen (Marstons Mills, MA) recorded 25 assists for the Bears.  Sophomore Marissa Pita (Hyannis, MA) and junior Brianne Cobb (New Bedford, MA) each added eight digs. Sophomore Julie Clerc (Acushnet, MA), the MASCAC Player of the Year, did not play due to injury.

The Jumbos will take on Wellesley College on Friday evening at 7 pm in the New England Regional Semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship. The Blue were five-set winners against Endicott on Thursday.