CLINTON, N.Y. – Hamilton College's
Summer McClintic '24 led all players with a career-high 17 kills and the Continentals defeated the Tufts University Jumbos in five sets (25-22, 20-25, 14-25, 25-20, 15-12) at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Season Update
- Hamilton improved to 6-5 overall and 2-2 in the NESCAC.
- Tufts (6-6, 1-3 NESCAC), received votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III coaches poll.
How It Happened
- Hamilton held a two-point lead at 5-3 after fighting back from a 3-1 deficit in the deciding set. Tied at 8-8 apiece, Kate Carman '24 demolished a kill, Melissa Morelli '24 tallied an ace and Caitlin Allen '27 and Elodie McGeiver '27 registered block assists for an 11-8 lead. The Jumbos countered with two straight points, but Hamilton responded with the next two on a kill and block by Allen for a 13-10 advantage. The teams traded points before McClintic slammed her final kill.
- Despite trailing 14-11, Hamilton prevailed in the fourth set after a crucial 6-0 run for a 17-14 advantage. The Jumbos were able to pull within two points three times, but the Continentals closed out the set on kills by Allen and McClintic and two blocks by Allen.
- Hamilton started strong with a 6-2 lead and never trailed in the first set. The Jumbos stayed within three points until the Continentals used a 4-0 spurt for a 16-10 advantage after kills by McGeiver and McClintic and a McClintic block. Hamilton eventually opened up an eight-point lead at 22-14 and it looked like the Continentals would cruise, but Tufts roared back and pulled within a point at 23-22. Hamilton closed out the Jumbos after a Tufts service error and a McGeiver kill.
- The Jumbos gathered five consecutive points for an 11-5 cushion in the third set and led the rest of the way. Tufts also had a 4-0 run that gave the Jumbos a 20-11 lead.
- Down 16-14, the Jumbos ran off three straight points for a 17-16 lead in the second set. After McClintic drew Hamilton even with a kill, Tufts built another 3-0 rally and stayed in front the rest of the set.
- The Continentals boasted a season-best 18 blocks.
Notes
- Hamilton defeated Tufts for the first time since before 2000.
- McClintic tied a season best with 14 digs and registered her fourth double-double in her last five matches. She is sixth in the NESCAC in kills with 2.73 per set.
- Carman recorded 13 kills.
- Morelli dished out 39 assists, had 15 digs and pounded three aces.
- Rylee Bergeron '26 led Hamilton with 17 digs.
- Allen collected eight blocks and is fifth in the conference with 0.91 per set.
- Alina Qi paced Tufts with 13 kills and seven blocks.
- Megan Harrison gathered a match-high 21 digs for the Jumbos.
Next Match
The Continentals travel to Brunswick, Maine, for another NESCAC matchup at Bowdoin College (7-4, 2-3 NESCAC) on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.