HARTFORD, Conn. – Simmons volleyball (5-1) went 3-0 at the Trinity College Tri-Tournament with back-to-back 3-2 wins against Eastern Connecticut State and, host, Trinity College, Saturday afternoon.

 Vs. Eastern Connecticut State, W 3-2

The Sharks began the day with five-set, 3-2, win against the Warriors. Dropping the first set, 25-23, Simmons responded winning the second and third sets to take a 2-1 match advantage. Eastern Connecticut evened up the match, edging out a 25-22, but Simmons managed to escape the fifth set, 15-11.

Coming off her first double-double of the season, junior Sydney Iannantuono registered her second, tallying 16 kills and 11 defensive digs. She was one of four Sharks to reach double digits kills against the Warriors. Sophomore Jayla Parnell followed up with 13 kills and 11 digs, while classmate Claire Conners hit .429 with 10 kills on 21 attempts and one error.

Senior Amanda Fortune rounded out the Sharks in double figures, posting a .444 attack percentage she notched 10 kills. First-year Ava Saltzgiver was the third member of the Simmons line-up to register a double-double, pacing the offense with 38 assists and notching 13 digs.  

Vs. Trinity College, W 3-2

Despite dropping the first two sets to, host, Trinity in the final match of the afternoon, Simmons rolled its momentum, winning the final three sets to complete the 3-2 comeback. 

Iannantuono stayed red-hot from the floor, posting her third straight double-double, registering a team-high 17 kills, while also adding 13 digs. Fortune followed up with 15 kills, while Parnell rounded out the Sharks with 13 kills and also hitting .333 against the Bantams.

Hacker led the way defensively, recording 20 kills and Saltzgiver was once again leading the offense with 44 assists. 

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• The five-set comeback against Trinity marks the second straight win for Simmons against Trinity – Simmons defeated the Bantams in Hartford on Sept. 14, 2019.
• Simmons has now won three straight matches.
• Junior Sydney Iannantuono registered her third straight match with a double-double, combining to post 33 kills with 24 digs and one block assist.
• Sophomore Jayla Parnell also recorded back-to-back double-doubles with 26 kills and 22 digs against Eastern Connecticut and Trinity. 

UP NEXT
Simmons opens at home on Thursday, Sept. 15, hosting MIT at 6 p.m. Face-coverings are required for all fans at the Holmes Sports Center.