BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons volleyball came from behind to force a fourth set against Babson College Thursday evening, but it was not enough as the Beavers held on to win the final set 28-26, and defeat the Sharks, 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 28-26).

Babson led the first set from the start as senior Cathy Tinker posted three kills and freshman Alicia Wilde added two more. The Sharks brought the score within four with kills from senior Rachel Dufault (Westport, Mass.) and freshman Raeann Nesta (Niantic, Conn.) but strong defense by Elizabeth Sullivan and Karla Flores gave the Beavers the edge, taking the first set 25-19.

In the second set, the Beavers took a 10-4 lead as Kathleen Lynch set up Donahue and Krissy Robertson who buried three kills apiece. Simmons fought back, as Nesta and Brittany Hill (Milford, Mass.) beat the Beavers defense to bring the score within one. But the Sharks were unable to weather the storm with Babson going on a six-point run to win the second set, 25-18.

The Sharks tied the third set at eight and the teams swapped the lead until Dufault served up an ace to take the lead 12-11. Nesta and Hill each drilled shots to put the Sharks up 21-17 but the Beavers were relentless, with Donahue closing the gap to three. With a service error in the Sharks favor, Simmons forced a fourth set, with a 25-21 victory in the third.

The fourth saw eleven lead changes and huge blocks by both squads. Kina Kamien (Salem, N.H.) served an ace to tie the game at 24 and Kelly Last (West Haven, Conn.) posted an impressive dig to keep the ball alive and then tie the game at 26. But the Beavers managed to hang on for the final point to win the set 28-26.

With the win, Babson moves to 2-0 on the season, while the Sharks drop to 2-3. Simmons returns to the court on Friday, September 7th when the team travels to Maine for the Colby College Invitational.