MEDFORD, MA - The Amherst College volleyball team had a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed for the upcoming NESCAC Championship Tournament but couldn't seal the deal as they fell to Wesleyan University, 3-2, after sweeping Connecticut College, 3-0, in NESCAC quad action Saturday at Tufts University.

After Amherst made quick work of Conn. and Wesleyan downed Trinity College, the Jeffs and Cardinals locked horns with the No. 1 seed at stake. Wesleyan prevailed 30-25, 23-30, 30-18, 28-30, 15-13 in what was the longest and most dramatic NESCAC match of the season, despite a 22-kill, seven-block performance by Amherst senior co-captain outside hitter Erica Hewes (Pebble Beach, CA). Fellow senior co-captain setter Meredith DeMeules (Los Angeles, CA) - who posted her third triple-double of the season in a 3-0 win over Trinity on Friday night - was similarly impressive with 23 assists, 18 digs and five kills.

Earlier in the day against Conn. - a match Amherst won 30-11, 30-7 and 30-8 - DeMeules was again dominating with 22 assists, 10 aces and three kills. Junior outside hitter Erin Dittus (Brentwood, TN) added 12 kills, while Hewes chipped in with nine and first-year setter Annie Hoeksma (Los Angeles, CA) finished with 16 assists, five kills and four aces.

Amherst moved to 18-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play with the split. The Jeffs are assured of no worse than a No. 3 seed at the NESCAC Championship Tournament, slated for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2-3 at Middlebury College.