WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- Rookie head coach Christi Kelsey led her 21-8 Williams women’s volleyball team to the NESCAC title this past weekend at Tufts University and this Thursday Kelsey and the Ephs will be back at Tufts to open NCAA Tournament action.
Tufts was the pre-determined site of this year’s NCAA New England Regional. A year ago the Ephs won the NCAA New England Regional title at Tufts and advanced to the Elite Eight.
Williams, winners of the last three NESCAC titles, will face off against Emerson College at 12:30 PM on Thursday. The winner of the Williams vs. Emerson match will face the winner of the UMass Boston vs. Westfield State match at 4:30 PM on Friday.
Emerson secured a berth in the NCAA Tournament by winning the Great Northeast Athletic Conference title with a 3-1 win over Johnson & Wales. Emerson is 30-6 on the year and they have won their last 5 matches in a row.
Lauren Zaniboni leads Emerson in kills with 3.78/set and she has also registered 2.49 digs/set.
Emerson’s leader in assists is Katie Bailey who averages 5.13 per set and Sara Rutan is tops on the Emerson team with 3.38 digs per set.
Emerson is making its first NCAA Tourney appearance.
The Ephs downed host Tufts 3-0 in the NESCAC championship match on Sunday to secure a berth in this year’s tourney. The significance of the Eph win over Tufts is hard to downplay as Tufts had defeated the Ephs three times on the year, twice in the finals of a tournament.
Junior Kate Anderson leads the Ephs in kills with 4.73/set, while classmate Nicole Ballon-Landa leads in blocks with 0.64/set.
The Eph attack is keyed around setter Emily Avis who is averaging 10.9 assists per set. Senior Chelsea Kubal is the Eph digs leader with 4.37/set.
Kelsey’s Ephs will take a 6-match win streak into the Emerson match Thursday afternoon.
TUFTS REGIONAL SEEDS:
1. Tufts (28-4)
2. UMass Boston (29-4)
3. Williams (21-8)
4. Clarkson (28-6)
5. Wellesley (23-9)
6. Emerson (30-6)
7. Westfield St. (19-15)
8. Maine Maritime (22-5)
MATCH TIMES
ALL MATCHES PLAYED AT COUSENS GYMNASIUM (Medford, MA)
First Round on Thursday, November 12
Williams vs. Emerson, 12:30 pm
UMass Boston vs. Westfield St., 3 pm
Clarkson vs. Wellesley, 5:30 pm
Maine Maritime vs. Tufts, 8 pm
Semi-finals on Friday,
November 13
Williams/Emerson winner vs. UMass Boston/Westfield St. winner, 4:30 pm
Clarkson/Wellesley winner vs. Maine Maritime/Tufts winner, 7
pm
Championship Match on
Saturday, November 14 -- 7 pm
