FRANKLIN, Mass. – Simmons volleyball (13-7, 9-0 GNAC) keeps its conference mark unblemished following a three-set sweep of Dean College (6-16, 2-6 GNA)C in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Friday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1: Simmons 25, Dean 18
The first set of the night was a tight back-and-forth battle, but with the match tied at 10 the Sharks began to pull away. Taking advantage of a Dean service error, Simmons went on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 17-10 lead. During the stretch, senior outside hitter Claire Conners and first-year outside hitter Hannah Pridgeon combined for four kills and he Sharks never looked back.  

SET 2: Simmons 25, Dean 17
Dean opened the second set in front 7-5, but another Bulldog service error ignited another 7-0 run by the Sharks. Notching a pair of service aces, senior setter Kat Simeonidis helped the Sharks pull in front, 12-7.  

While the Bulldogs managed to tie the game 12 with a 5-0 run, the Sharks had an answer, winning the next five points and put themselves in the driver's seat with a 17-12 lead. Senior outside hitter Jay Parnell was an integral member of the offence during the string, with a pair of kills.

SET 3: Simmons 25, Dean 20
Hitting a staggering .714 as a team at the start of the third set, the Sharks looked poised to seal the game. Graduate senior Chelsea Simmons and junior Meghan Doxsee gave the Sharks a 10-5 lead, while Parnell maintained the five-point advantage with a kill and forced the Bulldogs to call their first time. 

Coming out of the timeout, the Sharks went on the defensive with a trio of blocks. Parnell ignited the block party with a solo block, while Simmons and sophomore Kate Petrosso extended the lead to 16-8 with a double block. The Sharks fended off a late Bulldog comeback to complete the three-set sweep.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior outside hitter Jayla Parnell recorded her third double-double of the season tallying, 11 kills and 10 digs on the night.
• Senior setter Kat Simeondis paced the offense with 17 assists
• Graduate senior Chelsea Simmons came two kills shy of her fourth triple-double of the season, registering her ninth double-double of the season (14 assists, 12 digs, 8 kills).
• Senior outside hitter Claire Conners posted a .389 attack percentage with nine kills on 18 attempts and just two miscues. 

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the hard-court tomorrow, hosting a tri-match against Lasell University (11 a.m.) and Clark University (3 p.m.)