MEDFORD, Mass. – The Connecticut College volleyball team dropped its season and NESCAC opener to Tufts by a 3-0 decision on Friday evening at Cousens Gym. Set scores were 25-16, 25-18, and 25-10.
 
Tufts (6-0, NESCAC 1-0) scored the first six points of the opening set and led from wire-to-wire. However, they were challenged throughout the remainder of the frame by the Camels. After Tori Golden's attacking error put the visitors on the board, Connecticut College went on a 9-5 run to pull within one. An ace by freshman Lauren Casey (New York, N.Y.) followed by a kill by Katherine Randall (Chicago, Ill.) created an 8-5 score, and a kill off the hand of junior Katie Gunderman (Oakland, Calif.) made it 11-10.
 
However, that was as close as the Camels would come. Golden notched a kill to put the Jumbos up by a touchdown at 21-14, and a bad set on set point gave the Jumbos a nine-point win.
 
Connecticut College, which started three freshmen along with a first-year libero, had a stronger start in the next frame and held early leads of 6-4 and 8-7. The Jumbos, however, responded with three straight points to seize the advantage for good. The margin grew to five at 17-12 when Cora Cunningham and Maya Lightfoot teamed up for a block, and Jennifer Ryan closed out the frame with a kill.
 
The teams traded the points at the beginning of the third set before the Jumbos broke loose with an 8-0 run. Ryan kickstarted the hot stretch, and the margin grew to twin figures, 17-7, on a Rileigh Farragher kill. A service error by the Camels on set and match point concluded the evening.
 
Tufts, which tallied a .550 hitting percentage in the final set, was led by Cate Dresler's double-double performance. She finished the game with 12 kills and 13 digs. Ryan contributed nine points and three blocks while hitting at a .571 clip, and Stephanie Lee notched a match-high 16 digs. Ariel Zedric had 22 assists and eight digs, while Jennelle Yarwood tallied five aces.
 
The Camels got strong efforts from junior Christina Leduc (Mendon, Mass.) and Randall in the setback. They contributed five kills apiece, while Randall also had seven digs. Freshman Julia Dailey (Charlottesville, Va.) registered 12 digs, and Carey finished with 18 assists.
 
Connecticut College (0-1, NESCAC 0-1) will conclude the opening weekend of NESCAC action when it next visits Bowdoin tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.