DANBURY, Conn. - Senior outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) spiked for 11 kills to lead the Simmons College volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to host Western Connecticut State University in the Colonial Invitational this afternoon at Feldman Arena in Danbury, Conn. The Sharks fall to 1-2 on the season, while the Colonials improve to 3-1.

Western Connecticut held off Simmons in the first two sets, winning the opening frame, 25-22, before taking the second set, 25-23. The Sharks won the third set, 25-18, before the Colonials closed out the match with a 25-11 triumph in the fourth frame.

Fredrickson added two digs and a pair of block assists for Simmons, while senior libero Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) registered 30 digs to give her 64 in her last two matches. Senior middle blocker Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) chipped in with 10 kills, four digs and three total blocks. First year setter Kenna McCarthy (Shelter Island, N.Y.) registered her second double-double of the tournament with 27 assists and 13 digs.

Senior outside hitter Karissa Smith (Bristol, CT) pounded a match-high 25 kills to lead the Colonials, while sophomore  Kamari King (East Hartford, CT) added nine kills. Senior setter Danielle Kaminsky (Southington, CT) dished out 42 assists, while senior outside hitter Cady Cordes (Fallon, NV) notched seven kills and 25 digs.

Itasaka averaged 6.29 digs per set for the weekend for the Sharks and was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Hart, who averaged 3.21 kills per set, while registering 0.71 blocks per set.

Simmons will be in action again on Tuesday, September 6 when it hosts Wentworth Institute of Technology at 7:00 p.m., while Western Connecticut hosts Emmanuel College on the same night at 7:00 p.m.