MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The top-seeded Wesleyan volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision (23-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-27) to second-seed Tufts in the NESCAC Championship match on Sunday afternoon from SIlloway Gymnasium. Tufts (21-5) earns the NESCAC's automatic bid into the 2022 NCAA Tournament while the Cardinals (23-3) await the NCAA Selection Show on Monday to 1:00 PM for news of an at-large bid.
 
This marks the second straight season that Wesleyan has finished as the NESCAC runner-up while the Cardinals have made it to the semifinal round now five straight seasons. This is Tufts' third NESCAC Championship in program history and their second in the last three seasons.
 
Bella Ahearn '23 was outstanding for the Cardinals, totaling 15 kills against just three errors in 34 attempts for a .353 attack percentage. Ahearn has gone for double-digit kill totals in five straight matches and in eight of her last 10 overall.
 
Sophia Lindus '26 was the lone other Cardinal to put up 10+ kills as the first-year finished with 10 to go along with three blocks. This is Lindus' 13^th straight double-digit kill match and her 16^th in the past 17 matches.
 
Jenna Otaola '22 was the keg cog in the Cardinal back line throughout the match, registering a match-high 24 digs. Kate Long '24 produced five kills with no errors on 10 attempts, hitting .500 in her two sets of action. Mariko Tanaka '24 made her return for the first time in nearly a month, posting four kills. Grace Dennis '23 went for 34 assists, six digs and three blocks as the primary setter throughout.
 
Tufts featured a balanced attack with four players posting 12+ kills led by Maya Lightfoot who racked up 15 kills on 29 attempts for a .379 attack percentage. Jenelle Yarwood totaled 13 while Grace Legris and Rileigh Farragher had 12 kills each. Three Jumbos also went for double-digit dig totals including 20 from Yarwood to pair with her 13 kills. Stephanie Lee added 18 digs and Maddie Yu totaled 14 to go along with 24 assists.
 
In front of a packed Silloway Gymnasium, the Cardinals came out strong and led 6-2 in the early going thanks to consecutive blocks from Morton. Tufts' response was quick as a 6-1 run gave the Jumbos a 8-7 advantage. The lead changed hands several times in the next few minutes before three unanswered Tufts points made it 15-12. Wesleyan dug in and fought back to tie the score at 22 apiece and later staved off a set point but Farragher put away a kill to land a 25-23 set victory for Tufts.
 
Tufts was at their very best in the second set as the Jumbos posted 18 kills and hit .250, their highest attack percentage in any set in the match. Despite an impressive offensive showing from the visitors, Wesleyan hung in and only trailed 18-17 before a crucial 3-0 Tufts run created some much-needed separation. After the Cardinals cut the deficit down to two, the Jumbos finished off a 25-20 set victory with a 3-0 run.
 
Wesleyan started strong once again, this time leading by as many as six as Long factored with back-to-back kills during a 6-1 scoring run. Tufts put away six unanswered points to suddenly tie the score at 12-12 but Wesleyan had a 5-0 run of their own late on to hold their biggest set lead of the match at 22-15. Even with three unanswered Jumbo points, Wesleyan gave the home fans hope with a 3-0 run to finish off a 25-18 set victory.
 
The fourth set was a thriller as Tufts held a 13-8 lead and later held a 15-11 advantage, looking likely to finish off the match. However, Wesleyan battled back and with a 5-1 run the score was suddenly tied at 16-all. Wesleyan continued to fight and after a 6-2 run, held a 22-20 lead. Tufts later fought off three set points as Wesleyan led 24-22 and again at 25-24, but three unanswered points, capped by a Lightfoot kill sealed the NESCAC title victory for Tufts.
 
Despite the loss, Wesleyan is all but assured of what would be the program's fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Regional play is set to begin on Thursday, November 10. The location will be determined on Monday at 1:00 PM.