NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Returning to Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action, Simmons volleyball (12-9, 6-2 GNAC) fell to host Norwich University (11-8, 5-4 GNAC) on Wednesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Norwich 25, Simmons 21
The Cadets set came out of the gate strong taking the first set by a score of 25-21. Simmons battled back for the majority of the set, but the Norwich offense proved to be too much. 

Set 2: Norwich 25, Simmons 22
Norwich's offense remained strong heading into the second set, pulling out to a 4-1 lead to open. Much like the first set, the Sharks made the Cadets fight, battling back to take an 11-9 lead midway through the set. But it was short-lived as Norwich re-gained the lead following an ace from Addison Schroeder and a kill by Leah Matthewson. 

Set 3: Simmons 25, Norwich 19
With their backs against the wall and facing an 0-2, the Sharks were first to grab a 3-0 at the start of the third set. An early service ace by junior setter Kat Simeonidis helped sustain the offensive momentum, which they used to stave off the Cadets as Norwich mounted multiple comebacks. 

Spurred by an attacker error by the Cadets' Maggie McNeil, the Sharks went on a 4-0 run to take their largest lead of the set, 17-11, and force Norwich to call its second timeout.  

The Cadets looked rejuvenated coming out of the break, answering with a 5-0 to pull within one point of the Sharks, 17-16. But the Sharks had other ideas and kept the Cadets at bay, only allowing them to come within a point of their lead twice. Junior outside hitter Claire Conners notched a pair of kills and an ace to send the match to a fourth set.

Set 4: Simmons 25, Norwich 15
The third set win fueled the Sharks as they once again jumped out to another 3-0 lead, taking advantage of three straight Cadet miscues to begin the set. Midway through the set, Conners led the Sharks to a 15-8 lead with three kills in six points.

Simmons kept the pressure on Norwich, extending their lead to as many as 10 late in the set before they cruised to the 25-15 win to send the match to a deciding game five.

Set 5: Norwich 15, Simmons 10
Heading to a fifth set for the second time in as many days, the Sharks used that experience to jump in front 4-0. But the Cadets answered with a 5-0 run to take a one-point ,5-4, advantage.

For the next five points it remained a back-and-forth match, before Norwich pulled ahead offensively with a 5-0 run as they went on to claim the match with the 15-10 win.  

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior outside hitter Sydney Iannantuono registered her seventh double-double of the season and first since September 30, tallying 18 kills and 25 career single-game best 25 digs.
• Junior outside hitter Claire Conners followed with another double-double with 17 kills, 10 digs to go along with three block assists.
• Junior setter Kat Simeonidis recorded her third straight game with double-double, pacing the offense with 45 assists, while recording 12 digs. 

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the hard-court on Saturday, October 22 when they host Anna Maria College and Colby-Sawyer College for a tri-match beginning at 11 a.m.