BIDDEFORD, Maine – Simmons volleyball (7-5) rolled to its fifth straight win defeating non-conference University of New England (3-10) in four sets, 3-1, early Friday evening.

Senior outside hitter Sydney Iannantuono surpassed her career single-game high tallying 22 kills, while also notching 14 defensive digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Sophomore Joenissa Ortiz followed up and also recorded a double-double, tallying 12 kills and a single-game best 21 digs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: UNE 25, Simmons 19
The Sharks founded themselves in an early, 1-0 hole, dropping the first set, 25-19. UNE's Lauren Davenport led way hitting .300 with three kills on 10 attempts, while teammate Viktoria Pavlyuk followed with three kills of her own. Griffin Chaffin-Quiray led with three assists.

Set 2: Simmons 25, UNE 18
Simmons answered in the second set. Iannatuono registered three straight kills to give the Sharks an 11-5 lead and pulled ahead by eight, 14-6, before the Nor'easters called their first timeout. They did not look back.  

Iannantuono led the way both offensively and defensively with six kills and seven digs, while Ortiz was perfect from the floor, tallying four kills on four attempts. Junior setter Kat Simeonidis paced the offense with 12 assists.

Set 3: Simmons 25, UNE 19
The Sharks took the 2-1 match advantage, claiming the third set, 25-19. Iannantuono was once again red-hot from the floor, posting a .533 attack percentage with nine kills on 15 attempts and just one miscue. Ortiz added another three kills, while also notching two service aces.

Junior libero Jayla Parnell led the way defensively with seven digs as Simeonidis was steadying the offense chipping in another 11 assists.

Set 4: Simmons 25, UNE 19
Registering a 70% sideout percentage, the Sharks sealed the match with a 25-19 win in the fourth set. Iannatuono led the Sharks with four kills, while first-year Alex Spencer followed up, hitting .333 with two kills on three attempts with just one error. Ortiz also notched a pair of kills and led the team defensively with nine digs.  

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior outside hitter Sydney Iannantuono recorded her sixth double-double of the season, tallying a career single-game high 22 kills to go along with 14 digs.
• Sophomore outside hitter Joenissa Ortiz registered a career single-game best 21 digs to go along with 12 kills.
• Junior setter Kat Simeonidis paced the offense with 40 assists.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the court tomorrow morning for a tri-match in Standish, Maine with Saint Joseph's College of Maine (11 a.m.) and Salem State University (1 p.m.).