Volleyball (9-0, 2-0 NESCAC) took home their ninth consecutive victory in a 3-2 match against the Connecticut College Camels (4-5, 0-2 NESCAC) in New London, Conn., on Saturday.
While the Ephs maintained their perfect record, this game was a tougher challenge than previous competitions. The 3-2 victory was the first time the Ephs let up a set all season, as outside/opposite hitter Tatum Baker ’27 explained.
“We needed someone to push back against us, and that happened,” Baker said. “I feel like all the other teams laid down and died a little bit.”
“We would win the first set [and then] they would just give up,” Baker continued. “This team, they actually pushed in the third and the fourth. They demolished us in those two sets.”
Last year, the Ephs weren’t always on the winning side of these tough battles. The team lost their first two matches against the Cortland Blazes and Brandeis Owls before eventually soaring to a five-game winning streak. The Ephs credited this year’s strong start to their camaraderie. “Since a lot of us are returners, we were able to build on the connections we had in the fall of last year and in the spring,” said middle/opposite hitter Chidimma Obi ’28. “That was a huge advantage for us because we were able to go in, shake off the rust really quickly from preseason, and start playing like ourselves.”
This connection was cemented last spring, according to Lilly Carstens ’28. “Last year we were a really young team, and technically we were really good, but we just didn’t have the experience on court with each other,” she said. The Ephs made a conscious effort to develop their communication and teamwork, Carstens said. “In the spring, we did a lot of technical and connection work and I think it’s showing a lot this season.”
The Ephs started the game off strong, winning their first two sets 25-21 and 25-23, respectively. In the third and fourth sets, however, the Camels mounted a comeback effort, winning 25-15 in the third and 25-13 in the fourth. “We started off with a big lead, and then it kind of went downhill from there,” Baker said. “You could see that they were pushing against us, and we got a little bit more timid.”
The Ephs started their final set behind 4-2, but fought hard to secure a 15-9 victory, giving them the overall match win. “A very big difference in the third and fourth set was the fact that we kind of looked a little more scared on the court,” Baker said. “I think because of that, passing went down a bit. We were playing on the defensive, whereas Conn. was attacking us in those sets.”
“And then in the fifth set, we were like, ‘We’re really not gonna lose this game,’” she continued. “So even though we started with a 4-2 deficit in the fifth set, we ended up pulling it out.”
Essential to the Ephs’ Saturday success was Carstens’ skillful performance, according to Baker. “She had almost 20 digs, which is insane,” Baker said. “Defense is a huge part of those games: being scrappy, picking up balls, and being able to play against them, especially with the team yesterday. ”
Obi also highlighted Carstens’ stellar defense. “As a hitter, there’s nothing like a confident setter or libero, and I think [Carsten] goes out with a level of confidence that is appreciated by [our] hitters because she believes in you,” she said. “She’s setting us up for success.”
Ultimately, the team’s collective effort and depth drove the victory, according to Baker. “Coach [Christi Kesley] was able to rotate in a lot of players, which, against a good team, shows that we really have depth on our bench,” she said. “A few of our freshmen came in and did a great job, and I think that’s also a big part, having confidence that everyone can step out and play in those moments. We did that, and I was really impressed by the people who came off the bench and immediately started contributing.”
The Ephs will fight to continue their undefeated streak next Wednesday, Sept. 24, at home against the Vassar Brewers (8-2). Vassar may pose yet another challenge as they will face the Ephs hot off of having won six of their last last seven games.
