The Firedogs put on a show for their home crowd this past weekend, as they won all four matches of the Amherst Invitational Tournament. The wins improved its season record to 11-0. The Firedogs sailed past Brandeis and Westfield State Universities on Friday evening, and used their momentum to trounce Johnson and Wales University and Middlebury College the following morning.
"Our first game really set the tone for the entire tournament," said first-year defensive specialist Rachel Yorke. "We saw how well we played as a team and then carried this positive attitude with us throughout the weekend."
In their first game of the tournament against Brandeis, the Firedogs came out ready to play, but so did their opponent. The Judges forced Amherst to scramble for points and led 10-9 early in the game. The Firedogs regained the lead, but could not shake the determined Judges. Finally, Amherst pulled away, winning the game 30-23. The Firedogs were once again put to the test as the Judges stayed close throughout the second game. The two teams traded points until the end of the game, when the 'Dogs were able to score two points in a row to win the game 31-29. A downcast Brandeis trailed the entire third game, and capitulated 30-23.
Tri-captain Jaclyn DeMais '08 led the team on both offense and defense, tallying 14 kills and 13 digs on the match. Fellow tri-captain Whitney Kouvaris '08 added 10 kills of her own and junior Claire Holton-Basaldua rounded out the offense with eight kills. Tri-captain Julie Berkley '08 scored some points of her own, as she sent six aces screaming over the net.
The second match of the night for the Firedogs, this time against Westfield State, was no easy victory. Though Amherst won in three straight games, the Firedogs had to fight for every point. They overwhelmed the Owls 30-19 in game one, never really allowing the opposition a chance to control the game. The second game saw Amherst trailing by seven points early on, before the team picked up its play. The Firedogs were able to eke out a win by a score of 30-28. The Firedogs again trailed early on in the third game. They pulled out of their funk, however, and ran away with the game, winning 30-21 and securing their ninth straight victory.
Yorke had a breakout game, amassing 21 digs, while fellow first-year Laura Hyman helped out the veterans on offense by notching seven kills in the game. When asked how the Firedogs were able to tally victories in such close games, Berkley responded, "We were able to make the right adjustments when we needed to. When we made mistakes on our side of the net we were able to correct them before our opponent got too far ahead."
The Firedogs began Saturday morning on the right foot, defeating Johnson and Wales 30-21, 30-21 and 30-18. Berkley served a match-high 10 aces, while sister Jackie Berkley '11 protected the net with two solo and three assisted blocks. In the final match of the tournament, Amherst faced NESCAC opponent Middlebury, whom the Firedogs had beaten the previous weekend at Tufts. The Firedogs swept through the Panthers in the first two games, 30-22 and 20-17. Middlebury made the Firedogs work hard in the final game, but Amherst was able to pull through, winning 30-28.
"I think that, overall, we played really smart volleyball this weekend." said Yorke. "We varied our spots based on the holes in the other team's defense and we adjusted really well both offensively and defensively to different teams and on out-of-system plays." Rookie Erin Camp totaled six aces and 18 digs on the day, while Kouvaris and DeMais combined for 50 kills.
Though the Firedogs are pleased with their success thus far, they realize that only two of their matches have been conference matches. They will look to retain their intensity and repeat as NESCAC champions.