NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Simmons volleyball (6-5) handed Smith College (10-3) their third loss of the season following a 3-2 victory, early Friday evening. Winning their fourth straight match, the Sharks climbed back over .500 with the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Simmons 27, Smith 25
The Sharks started strong edging out the Pioneers, 27-25, in the first set to take the 1-0 match advantage. Coming off a career single-game high in kills, junior outside hitter Jayla Parnell remained red-hot, notching four kills on nine attempts. Senior Sydney Iannantuono posted a .312 attack percentage, tallying six kills on 16 attempts.
Set 2: Simmons 25, Smith 20
Parnell was nearly perfect in the second set, registering four kills on six attempts, while also leading the team defensively with five digs to help put the Sharks ahead, 2-0. Iannantuono also stayed on her game, adding another four kills of her own. Junior Kat Simeonidis paced the offense with nine assists.
Set 3: Smith 25, Simmons 21
With their backs against the wall, the Pioneers pulled out the third set utilizing a late 4-0 run with back-to-back kills from Ava Zollinger and Mia Moscicki. Zollinger posted a .750 attack percentage, going three-for-four from the floor with four total blocks – one solo, three assisted.
Set 4: Smith 25, Simmons 20
After picking up the win in the third set, Smith extended the match to five, edging out the Sharks, 25-21 in the fourth. The Pioneers jumped out in front early, going on an 8-0 run to take a 13-5 lead and force the Sharks to call their second time out of the game. Smith never looked back as Abby Hunt and Sarah Dankovich combined to register nine kills to tie the match at 2-2.
Set 5: Simmons 15, Smith 12
The final set was back-and-forth match with eight ties before the two squads changed sides of the net. After they switch, the Sharks began to pull away. First year Alex Spencer sparked a 3-0 run to put the Sharks up 11-8.
Although the Pioneers battled their way back to pull within one, on an attack error, they never got over the hump. Iannantuono sealed the match registering a pair of kills in the final four points of the game to seal the Sharks' fourth straight victory.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior outside hitter Sydney Iannantuono registered her fifth double-double of the season – third straight – tallying 19 kills and 20 defensive digs.
- Junior outside hitter Jayla Parnell recorded her second straight double-double, following up with 15 kills and 12 digs.
- First year Alex Spencer hit .556 from the floor with five kills on nine attempts, while adding three block assists defensively.
- Junior setter Kat Simeonidis paced the offense with 36 assists.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the hard-court on Friday, September 30th when they travel to Biddeford, Maine for a non-conference match against the University of New England at 5 p.m.