This past weekend, the Amherst volleyball team closed its season with a loss in the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament against top-seeded Tufts. Although, the Mammoths had put forward an inspired performance in their quarterfinal matchup against Hamilton the previous weekend, Amherst eventually fell to the Jumbos in three sets, erasing any hopes of making it to the NCAA tournament.

Amherst had many chances during the match, jumping out to early leads in both sets of the first two sets. However, the high-powered and consistent Jumbos’ offense proved too much for Amherst, and both sets ended with Amherst on the losing end.
The third set saw Tufts finally hit their groove, dominating the third set and ending any hopes of a comeback with a convincing 25-15 win.

The Jumbos would go on to lose the championship game to Wesleyan, but both teams received bids to the NCAA tournament, with Wesleyan automatically qualifying and Tufts receiving an at-large bid.
The team finished with an overall record of 17-10, a fitting end to what was an undoubtedly up-and-down season.
“This season was definitely a rollercoaster, but a great way to end my collegiate career,” co-captain Marialexa Natsis ’18 said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my time doing anything else, but playing with and for my best friends and teammates.”
Reflecting on the season, and the next campaign, Hayes Honea ’19 noted, “While it’s always tough to end a season and say goodbye to seniors, it’s also exciting to to see the potential in the next season. The majority of our starters are returning, and we are fired up to get revenge on the teams we barely lost to this year.”

Amherst, despite its loss in the tournament, has much to look forward to in the coming years, as the Mammoths have a wealth of young talent ready to take the place of the departing seniors and will look to return to NCAA action next season.