AMHERST, Mass. – Amherst took down Tufts 3-1 today in LeFrak Gymnasium. The Jumbos came into LeFrak in second place in the NESCAC standings, but the Mammoths earned a win against Tufts for the first time since 2018, building off momentum from yesterday's win against Bates
The Mammoths improved to 3-6 in NESCAC play and 10-9 overall.
Next week, Amherst will play Wellesley College on Thursday with the hopes of keeping the team's overall record above .500.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
*In the first half of the first set, Amherst and Tufts battled back and forth. Tufts moved ahead of Amherst at 4-2, but the Mammoths went on a 5-1 run, highlighted by a Tiana Richardson block and a service ace and kill from Addison Lau, creating a 7-5 advantage. The teams exchanged points again, but at 10-8, Amherst pulled ahead to 18-13, behind kills from Gabrielle Hines, Sofia Camilo, and Addison Lau. Amherst maintained control down the stretch, claiming victory in set one, 25-16.
*Amherst built on its momentum in the second set. Similar to set one, the Jumbos and Mammoths exchanged points throughout the first half of the match, tying at 12. Kills from Abby Nichols and Addison Lau allowed Amherst to pull ahead to 18-15. In a 4-1 run, Amherst asserted itself late in the match behind a kill and service ace from Tiana Richardson, leading to a 22-16 lead. Although Tufts mounted a late effort to pull within three points, Amherst closed out the set victorious, 25-21.
*In the third set, Tufts came out strong, pulling out to an early 10-4 lead. Despite dispersed kills from Addison Lau, Gabrielle Hines, and Sofia Camilo, the Jumbos maintained their lead into the later stages of the set, eventually closing out the set victorious at 25-15.
*In the fourth set, Tufts came out strong once again, establishing an early 10-4 lead. However, Amherst responded, pulling within two points at 10-8 with the help of kills from Tiana Richardson and Gabrielle Hines. Despite this effort, Tufts still maintained their advantage in the second half of the match, leading 17-13. However, seven straight points from the Mammoths, highlighted by kills from Camilo and Lau, along with a service ace from Liliana Brandt, flipped the momentum of the match. Leading 20-17, Amherst and Tufts exchanged points until Hines got the final kill for Amherst, securing a 25-23 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
*Gabrielle Hines led the team in kills with 15, and Addison Lau added 12.
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Abby Nichols led the team in block assists with 3, and
Sofia Camilo added 2.
*Liliana Brandt led the team in assists with 19, and Judith Subirats-Bosch added 18.
