BOSTON, Mass. - The number three seed Simmons College women's volleyball team is heading to Nashua, N.H. on Thursday, November 5 to play number two seed Rivier University at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Semifinals.
The Sharks advanced to the semifinal following a 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23) victory over sixth-seeded Norwich University on November 4, while the Raiders defeated seventh-seeded Anna Maria College, 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-7). Simmons is making its fourth straight semifinals appearance, while Rivier advances to the semis for the 16th consecutive year. The meeting between the teams marks the third straight season that they have met in the semifinals with the Raiders winning all three contests.
The Sharks own a 12-14 record, while Rivier is 26-6. The Raiders lead the all-time series, 17-3, and won the only meeting this season between the squads in Nashua on October 7, 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22). Lauren Silverman led Rivier with 16 kills, while first year middle blocker Emmee Ashby (Payson, Ariz.) spiked for 14 to lead the Sharks.
The Raiders are led by a trio of offensively talented sophomores. Dana Mott (Medway, Mass.) leads the group with 2.78 kills per set to go with a potent .345 hitting percentage and 39 service aces in 103 sets, while outside hitter Molly McCormack (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) plays well on both sides of the net wit 2.67 kills and 2.68 digs per set. Lauren Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) is the most efficient hitter in the league with a .361 hitting mark to go with 2.27 kills per set and 0.80 blocks per set, including 29 solo blocks on the year.
Junior setter Emily O'Reilly (San Francisco, Calif.) directs the action for Rivier with a league-best 9.39 assists per set to go with 2.04 digs per frame, 60 aces and 25 assisted blocks. First year libero Bethany Trevino (Westminster, Colo.) has put up big numbers on the defensive side of the net, averaging 4.48 digs per set in addition to firing 38 aces.
Ashby leads Simmons with 2.97 kills per set to rank second in the league, while her .283 hitting rate places her third. The rookie has been effective at the net as well with 0.64 blocks per frame to stand eighth in the league. First year outside hitter Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) has been a force on both sides of the net for the Sharks with 1.72 kills and 1.91 digs per set to go with 22 aces. Sophomore transfer Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) has gotten more comfortable as the season's gone on, averaging 1.65 kills per set on a .139 hitting mark. Sophomore middle hitter Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) is a proven deterrent at the net for Simmons with a team-high 0.65 blocks per set to place sixth among GNAC leaders and chips in with 1.28 kills per set.
Second year setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) sets the tempo for the Sharks with 8.13 assists per set and provides a defensive presence at the net with 22 total blocks. Sophomore libero Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) paces the team's defensive effort with 4.00 digs per set, while keeping teams honest with 24 service aces. She and Ashby have played all 95 sets this year.