Medford, Mass. - The Trinity College volleyball team lost in three straight sets to Tufts on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Bantams to 7-10 overall, 1-7 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) games, while Tufts improves to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in conference action. 

The first set was a hard fought one as both teams exchanged points early.  The set was tied at eight and then again eleven before the Jumbos took a lead, leading by as much as four.  But the Bantams wouldn't go away, and fought back.  The Jumbos were leading 24-18 but the Bantams used a couple of Jumbo errors and kills by Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Vedes, Calif.) and Hunter Drews (Clifton Park, N.Y.) to come within two, 24-22.  The Jumbos finished off the set via a kill to take the 25-22 win in set one.

Things started close in the second set as well as neither team was really able to gain a lead on the other early.  However, after the set was tied at six the Jumbos jumped out to a sizable lead, 16-8.  Again, the Bantams would not give up and put together a few points to get back in the match a bit.  The Jumbos finished the set 25-16 for the win.

The third set was the opposite of the first two.  The Jumbos jumped out to an early 7-1 lead and were able to maintain that lead for the duration of the match.  The Bantams came within three, trailing, 10-7, but the Jumbos hit their stride and were able to string some points together to win the set 25-16.

For Trinity, it was Giddens who finished with nine kills as Hannah Engstrom (Hopkington, Mass.), Drews and Claudia Varner (Port Washington, N.Y.) all each added three.  Giddens finished with 13 digs, while Shelby Deck (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Gina Buzzelli (Chesire, Conn.) added eight digs each.  Varner added two block assists.  Deck and Buzzelli split the setting duties, finishing with eight and six assists, respectively.

The Bantams play again on Friday when they play in the Hall of Fame Invitational, starting on Friday with Westfield State at Smith College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.