Women's Volleyball

Colby, Tufts, Wesleyan Advance to NCAA Volleyball Sweet 16 Round

Colby, Tufts, and Wesleyan all advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. The Mules and Cardinals went five sets in wins over Babson and Ithaca, respectively, while the Jumbos earned a 3-1 victory over Kean.

Third Round Schedule – Sat., Nov. 22
  • 5:00 p.m. – East Texas Baptist at Tufts
  • 5:00 p.m. – Colby at Wesleyan
All regional matches during the NCAA Tournament can be watched for free via ncaa.com/champs-pass and the NCAA Championships Pass app, available on smart TVs. Quarterfinal, semifinal, and the championship match will be available on ESPN+.

Colby def. Babson, 3-2 | Box Score
Colby improved to 25-3 with a 3-2 victory over Babson (19-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-10, 15-11) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in a match played on the Wesleyan University campus. With Babson leading, 2-1, after the first three sets, the Mules dominated the fourth set with a 25-10 victory. The deciding set was tied 10-10 when Alexa Peguero’s kill ignited a 5-1 Colby spurt to close the match and secure the win. Colby advances to the third round of the NCAAs for the first time since 2005. Brady Moseley led the Mules with 14 kills and 14 digs. Sydney DeProfio and Gabby Grujic combined for 45 assists and 20 digs. Colby recorded 20 blocks in the match.

Tufts def. Kean, 3-1 | Box Score
Tufts advanced to the regional final with a 3-1 win (25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22) over Kean at Cousens Gymnasium. After splitting the first two sets, the Jumbos earned wins of 25-19 and 25-22 in the third and fourth sets to improve to 24-5. Emma Norman led Tufts with 13 kills, while Claire Castor posted a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. The Jumbos, who are in the regional final for the first time since 2022, will face No. 1-ranked and undefeated East Texas Baptist (33-0) on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Wesleyan def. Ithaca, 3-2 | Box Score
Wesleyan outlasted Ithaca with a 3-2 win at Silloway Gymnasium. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead after three sets, but Ithaca fought off Wesleyan to earn a 30-28 victory in the fourth set and force a fifth frame. The fourth set featured nine ties, including a kill by Wesleyan’s Mila Chan that knotted the match at 28-28. An attack error by the Cardinals and a kill by Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu clinched the victory for Ithaca and forced the deciding fifth set. Wesleyan used a 7-0 spurt to build an 8-3 lead, and the Bombers could only get as close as two the rest of the way. Sophia Lindus’ 26th kill of the contest was match point and propelled the Cardinals into the regional final. Lindus finished the match with 26 kills and 22 digs while hitting .297. Chan also recorded a double-double with 17 kills and 16 digs. Ali Land posted 37 assists while Elliana Moreno added a team-high 24 digs. Wesleyan will face NESCAC foe Colby on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.