BOSTON – Simmons volleyball (0-3) dropped Saturday afternoon's road tri-match against Emerson College (1-0) and Manhattanville (1-0). The Sharks fell to the Lions in their first match of the day, 3-1, then dropped a back-and-forth battle to the Valiants in the second math, 3-2.

MATCH 1: EMERSON 3, SIMMONS 1

The Sharks began the day strong taking the first set from the Lions, 27-25, but Emerson answered winning the next three sets. Senior outside hitter Jayla Parnell led the way with 16 kills. Junior outside hitter April Beatty followed up with 11 kills. 

Senior setter Kat Simeonidis and Chelsea Simmons paced the offense. Simmons recorded 19 assists to go along with a block assist, while Simeondis chipped in with 15. Junior middle blocker Meghan Doxsee continued to be a dominant force at the net defensively, going up for three blocks and first-year libero Carolina Rodriguez registered 12 digs.

MATCH 2: MANHATTANVILLE 3, SIMMONS 2

In their second match of the day, the Sharks came out strong, winning the first set by a score of 25-17, but Manhattanville responded. Hitting .333 as a team the Valiants evened up the match a one game apiece.

Simmons went back on top 2-1 with a 25-20 win in the third set. Manhattanville would not go away, building a four-point, 12-8 lead, midway through the fourth, the Sharks began to chip away at the deficit and ended up taking a 21-19 late in the set. But they were unable to hold it as the Valiants edged out the Sharks, 25-22 to force a deciding game five where the Valiants squeaked out the win.

Graduate senior Chelsea Simmons notched double-double of the season, pacing the offense with 22 assists and 18 digs, while also going up for four blocks. Junior middle block Meghan Doxsee added another four blocks to her three in the first half, while classmate April Beatty tallied 11 kills and 11 digs. 

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior outside hitter Jayla Parnell led the Sharks with 24 kills on the afternoon, tallying 16 against Emerson and eight against Manhattanville.
• Junior outside hitter April Beatty recorded her first double-double against Manhattanville with 11 kills and 11 digs, while finishing the day with 22 kills.
• Graduate senior Chelsea Simmons registered 41 assists, 10 kills and five blocks.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the court on Tuesday, September 5 with their home opener against Endicott College at 7 p.m.