Nicole Peraica, '17, led Bates with 14 kills on Friday at Tufts. (File Photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College) 

MEDFORD, Mass. - Nicole Peraica led the way for the Bates Bobcats (6-9, 2-4) volleyball team with 14 kills and Chandler McGrath added 10 of her own, but it wasn't enough as Bates fell 3-1 (25-12, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18) Friday night to the Tufts Jumbos (11-4, 3-2). 

The Bobcats got off to a slow start in the match as Tufts went on a 7-1 run to begin the first set. Bates didn't get a kill until Mary Deneen hammered one home to cut the deficit to 12-4. But the Bobcats wouldn't get any closer than within seven points as the Jumbos took care of business to go up 1-0.

The Bobcats got their first lead of the match to start set two thanks to a service error. But Tufts promptly went on a 5-0 run before Peraica delivered her third kill of the evening. That was followed by a 4-0 Jumbos run to increase their lead to 9-2. Bates battled back though and cut the lead to four points multiple times, including at one point to 18-14 thanks to yet another kill by Peraica. But that's as close as they would get as Tufts took a 2-0 lead in the match.

Set three was a much different story though for both teams. Bates started the set on a 9-2 run. Peraica and McGrath each picked up early kills and Claire Naughton hit back-to-back service aces. An attack error by Tufts and back-to-back kills by Peraica made it 9-2 in favor of the Bobcats. The Jumbos didn't give in though as they rallied to take a 22-21 lead. But a crucial service error allowed the Bobcats to even the set at 22. Augy Silver entered the match to serve and Brynn Wendel delivered a kill to give Bates the lead again. McGrath picked up another kill and the Bobcats clinched the set on an attack error by the Jumbos.

Bates went toe-to-toe with the Jumbos again in the fourth set. Tufts started the set on a 5-1 run but the Bobcats rallied to even things up at 10. Peraica was in the middle of things again as she picked up three straight kills for the Bobcats. A kill by McGrath put Bates up 12-11 and an attack error by the Jumbos gave Bates a two-point lead. Tufts scored three straight points but Bates rallied again thanks to a service error and an attack error on consecutive plays by Tufts. 

Up 15-14, the Bobcats surrendered three straight points. The teams traded points as Peraica picked up a kill, the Jumbos responded with a kill of their own and a Jumbos service error made it a one-point game, 18-17, in favor of Tufts.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Tufts proceeded to go on a 4-0 run to take a comfortable lead. In the end the Bobcats fell by seven points in the final set but not before showing they could hang with one of the better teams in the NESCAC. 

Maddie Kupe led all players with 15 kills for the Jumbos. Angela Yu dished out 26 assists for Tufts and Kyra Baum added 22 of her own. Kupe also picked up 22 digs and Carolina Berger tallied 21. 

The Bobcats got 19 assists from Jacqueline Forney and a match-high 27 digs from Laryssa Schepel. 

Bates visits Connecticut College Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. for their next match.