BRUNSWICK, Me. – Add another instant classic to the Wesleyan/Tufts all-time series as the Cardinals came roaring back in the fourth set before overcoming an 8-4 deficit in the fifth set to defeat the Jumbos in five (19-25, 27-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-12), securing a trip to the NESCAC Championship match on Sunday against top-seeded Bowdoin. Wesleyan (17-5) advances to the NESCAC title match for the third time in program history (2001, 2017), having won the league championship in 2017.

In another all-timer between the two perennial NESCAC heavyweights, Wesleyan overcame sizeable deficits to claim wins in the second, fourth and fifth sets. The Cardinals trailed 20-14 in the second, 16-14 in the fourth and even trailed 8-4 in the decisive fifth set, but in all three, Wesleyan showed great character in clawing back to secure the semifinal victory. Since 2016, Wesleyan and Tufts have met seven times with all seven matches being decided by at least four sets (three have gone five sets including a 3-2 Wesleyan win earlier this season in Medford).
 
HIGHLIGHTS:

• The three-seed Tufts started the match strong, rattling off several key points to build a 13-4 lead which later stood at 20-10 in favor of the Jumbos. Wesleyan managed to find some footing as Mariko Tanaka '24 put away two consecutive solo blocks to start a rally attempt that did manage to cut the Tufts lead down to five but Maya Lightfoot put away the opening set with a kill to give the Jumbos a 25-19 win.
• Tufts led 5-1 early and later held a 20-14 advantage in the second set, looking to go up by a commanding 2-0 set lead, but Wesleyan came through in the clutch, beginning the rally with a Brina Kuslak '22 block. Bella Ahearn '23 began to find some holes in the Tufts defense, putting away three kills late before Grace Bell '23 came up with back-to-back service aces to give Wesleyan a 24-23 lead. Tufts bounced back with consecutive points to make it set point, but a service error followed by an attack error set the stage for a Tanaka block that sealed a vital 27-25 second set win for Wesleyan.

 

• The two sides traded points in the early stages of the third set and it was still a two-point margin with Tufts leading 18-16 before a key 5-1 run handed the Jumbos a 23-17 advantage before finishing off a 25-18 third set win.
• With the importance of each point growing as the match continued, the fourth set was close throughout, with neither side leading by more than two points up until the very late stages. Ahearn's kill gave Wesleyan a 19-18 lead and Kate Long '24 factored with two straight kills to cap a crucial 4-0 run that handed the Cardinals a 22-18 lead. Tufts was left scrambling and Wesleyan took advantage as Tanaka stuffed a Cate Desler kill attempt to seal a 25-19 Wesleyan win, sending the match into a fifth set.
• With tension at a high point and a trip to the NESCAC title match on the line, Tufts came out and put the pressure on early, building an 8-4 lead only to see Wesleyan win nine of the next 10 points to suddenly hold a 13-10 lead. Tufts would only get to within two points in the final stages before Long closed out the match with her 10^th kill, giving Wesleyan a 15-12 fifth set win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Maddie Kurke '22 led the way once again for the Cardinals, leading the team in kills (14) for the second straight match in the postseason
• Ahearn joined Kurke in double figures, registering 12 kills
• Long was on fire from the outside, putting away 10 kills on 19 attempts for a match-leading .412 attack percentage
• In her second match back after missing over a month with injury, Grace Dennis '23 was outstanding as the Cardinals' primary setter, dishing out a career-high 46 assists while matching her career-high with 14 digs, giving her a double-double for the fourth time in seven appearances this season
• Wesleyan's back row continued their torrid run of play as libero Jenna Otaola '22 put up 28 digs while defensive specialists Bianca Ortiz '24 (15 digs) and Kiana Yuhl '25 (11 digs) each went for double-digits

 

• Tanaka's contributions at the net loomed large as she tied her career-high with seven blocks (all solo) while adding seven kills and five digs for a tremendous all-around effort in the win
• Kuslak added seven kills and three blocks (all solo) and Sydney Smith '25 tallied six kills in just two sets played

UP NEXT:
Wesleyan will go for its second NESCAC Championship on Sunday at Noon with a matchup against the host Bowdoin. The Cardinals are 23-12 all-time against the Polar Bears but just 1-6 all-time in Brunswick. The two sides met earlier this year and Bowdoin came out on top in four sets.