Medford, Mass. - Trinity College first-year Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) finished with 15 kills and just two errors in 20 attempts for an outstanding .650 hitting percentage as the Bantam women's volleyball team swept Tufts, 3-0, in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) opening-night action Friday at Cousens Gym. The Bantams hit .323 overall while Tufts couldn't get going until late and finished at a .050 percentage. The match scores were 25-15, 25-18, and 25-17. Trinity remained undefeated overall at 5-0, while the Jumbos, ranked No. 8 in New England, dropped to 3-2.
Click here for video highlights vs. Tufts and Bowdoin.
"I was really proud of the way we played in front of a big home crowd for Tufts," said Trinity Head Caoch Jen Bowman. "Our setters did a great job and our passing was solid all night. Overall, a big win for the Bantams against a very tough NESCAC opponent."
Giddens and senior co-captain Danielle Isaman (Warrenton, Va.) both had four kills in the first set for Trinity, while Isaman added seven digs. The Bantams had a 12-4 run in the middle of the match to pull away. Trinity led the second set, 17-16, before finishing with eight of the final 10 points to win. The Bantams were led by seven kills from Giddens in the second set, while junior Amy Hackett (Wallingford, Conn.) served two aces. Sophomore Kelly Brennan (Burr Ridge, Ill.) was a bright spot for Tufts in the second, recording four kills with no errors and three digs.
Trailing, 10-3, early in the third set, Tufts rallied to within 17-14 as their hitting improved. However, Trinity closed strong again with an 8-3 run to close out the match. Four kills and five digs wrapped up Giddens' sensation evening. Brennan and sophomore Jess Ingrum (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) each had three third-set kills for Tufts.
Isaman's 10 kills and nine digs supported the 15 and 10 from Giddens for Trinity. Hackett (16 assists) and first-year Gina Buzzelli (Cheshire, Conn.) who had 22 assists shared the setter duties. Junior Hannah Brickley (Melrose, Mass.) had a solo block and two assists, and the Bantams served nine aces. Brennan led Tufts with eight kills, while junior Virginia Clay's (Santa Clara, Calif.) nine digs were tops defensively.
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