BOSTON, Mass. – The Simmons College volleyball team was defeated by visiting Endicott College, 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19), this evening at Moore Gymnasium in Boston, Mass. The Gulls improve to 7-4 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 0-7. 

Endicott went on a 10-2 run mid-way through the first set, which was followed up by an 8-1 run from the Sharks. The Gulls' junior right side hitter Lexi Watts (San Diego, Calif.) put the Sharks away with an imposing block to help end the set. Both teams battled to a 23-23 tie, but Watts came through with a pair of kills to put Simmons away. The Sharks went on to win the third set, but would later fall in the fourth. 

First year middle blocker Emmee Ashby (Payson Ariz.) had a career-high 17 kills to lead all players on a .282 hitting percentage and added two total blocks for Simmons. First year outside hitter Amber Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev.) added six kills, while classmate Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) put down five kills, scooped up 14 digs and served up a pair of aces. Sophomore setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) tallied 25 assists, four kills, nine digs and a block. Sophomore libero Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) anchored the defense with a match-high 26 digs. 

Junior setter Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) set for 43 assists and registered 11 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) led Endicott with 14 kills and just one attack error for a .295 hitting mark to along with three aces, 11 digs and a block. Sophomore defensive specialist Erika Trudon (Coventry, Conn.) registered 18 digs to lead the Gulls. Watts and sophomore middle blocker Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) finished with nine kills apiece while first year Elise Morgan (Holbrook, N.H.) added eight. 

The Sharks will be back in action again on Saturday, September 20 for a tri-match, taking on Framingham State University and Regis College beginning at 10:00 a.m. in Moore Gymnasium. Endicott will take on Williams College and Trinity College in a tri-match in Hartford, Conn. beginning at 2:00 p.m. on September 20.