On Friday evening, third-seeded Amherst traveled to Williamstown to play sixth-seeded Tufts University (20-13) in a first round match-up for the chance to play seventh-seeded Middlebury College (17-11). Middlebury had upset second-seeded Colby College (23-10) earlier in the evening.
"After witnessing the upset, I was a little nervous going into the Tufts match; but as soon as we started playing, there was no need to be nervous," said setter Annie Hoeksma '05.
The Firedogs trounced the sleepy Jumbos in the first game of the match, 30-14. After the early triumph, Amherst was lulled into a false sense of security and Tufts came out in the second game with fury. The Jumbos stunned the 'Dogs 25-30. However, Amherst pulled away to take the next two games and the match with ease, winning by scores of 30-25 and 30-21.
Outside hitters co-captain Erin Dittus '03 and Kate Raddock '06 powered the Firedog offense with 13 kills apiece. Outside hitter Jess Allen '04 contributed nine kills as well. Hoeksma rounded out the offense with all 44 assists. On defense, defensive specialist Irene Lee '03 led the Firedogs with 30 digs, half of the team's total for the match.
The next day, the Jeffs entered its semifinal matchup against Middlebury with a confidence born from two regular season victories over the Panthers. The pattern of the evening before prevailed, as the Firedogs bested the Panthers in game one only to lose game two and then win three and four (30-27, 19-30, 30-25, 30-17).
Four Amherst players had kills in the double digits, as Dittus shone once more to lead the team with 14, followed closely by Raddock with 13, Allen with 12 and middle blocker Sara Bruggeman '06 with 10. Again, Hoeksma set up all 38 of the squad's kills.
Lee again played magnificent defense, this time notching 29 digs. Also playing well defensively was middle blocker Lauren Wong '04, who had eight blocks to lead the 'Dogs. Bruggeman and Dittus helped out on defense with five blocks apiece.
Unfortunately, the championship match followed a pattern as well. For the sixth time in the past two seasons, Amherst lost to archrival Williams (33-5). The Firedogs dropped three straight to the Ephs for the third time this season, losing by scores of 15-30, 27-30 and 22-30.
"It was just a matter of a few spikes that hit the ground and a few missed passes or hits," said Hoeksma of her team's play against Williams.
In the final games of her college career, Dittus led the team once again with 11 kills. Lee also ended her tenure at Amherst with a strong match, bolstering the Firedog defense with 25 digs. Wong and Bruggeman combined for 12 blocks to help out on defense.
By winning the tournament, Williams earned the coveted spot in the NCAA national tournament. The Purple Cows enter play seeded fourth in the region and face Western Connecticut State University in the first round. Amherst had hoped to win an at-large bid, but this distinction went to MIT, who defeated Amherst in regular season play.
In the end, the Jeffs fell just short of the Holy Grail: a victory against Williams and a NESCAC championship. However, the 2002 season was one filled with other successes. The team began the season with nine straight victories, won three times as many games as they lost, earned Head Coach Sue Everden her 400th career victory and, according to co-captain Missy Mordy '03, "like all other Firedog teams in the past, the volleyball team was extremely close both on and off the court."