NASHUA, N.H. – Senior outside hitter Claire Conners powered Simmons volleyball (6-6, 2-0 GNAC) to road sweep of Rivier University (5-3, 2-1 GNAC) and New England College (5-7, 1-1 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon. 

Against the Raiders and Pilgrims, Conners registered 25 kills on 46 attempts for a staggering .457 attack percentage as the Sharks begin conference play at 2-0. 

MATCH 1: Simmons 3, Rivier 0

In a re-match of last season's GNAC semifinal match, Simmons set the tone early, claiming the first set, 25-21. Momentum continued to favor the Sharks as they rolled to a convincing 25-16 win in the second set to take the two-match advantage.

The Sharks overcame a 3-0 hole at the beginning of the third set, but never let the Raiders build a lead greater than four. Simmons fended off a late Rivier comeback. With the set tied at 25, senior Claire Conners slammed down a kill along the far side, before teaming with junior Meghan Doxsee to seal the game, 27-25.   

MATCH 2: Simmons 3, New England College 0

There was no let up for the Sharks in their second match of the afternoon. Hitting an outstanding .349 as a team, Simmons rolled to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-11) shutout over New England College to begin conference at 2-0.

Senior outside hitter Claire Conners was flawless from the floor to lead the offensive charge with 15 kills on 22 attempts for a staggering .682 attack percentage. Senior outside hitter Jayla Parnell continued to excel offensively, following up with eight kills, while Chelsea Simmons paced the offense with 20 assists to along with two blocks (1 solo, 2 assisted).

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Claire Conners registered a .457 attack percentage with 25 kills on 46 attempts and just four errors on the afternoon.
• Fellow senior Jayla Parnell remained red-hot offensively tallying 16 kills on 39 attempts and two errors against Rivier and New England College.
• Junior middle blocker Meghan Doxsee was a force at the net recording seven total blocks – five assisted and two solo.
• Graduate senior Chelsea Simmons and senior Kat Simeonidis paced the offense, combining for 51 assists in two matches.

MATCH NOTES

• Simmons has now won the last two meetings against Rivier with their sixth win over the Raiders.
• The Sharks had three blocks in the final nine points of the third set against Rivier.

UP NEXT   
Simmons returns to the court next Saturday, September 30 for a GNAC tri-match in Weston, Massachusetts against Regis College (10 a.m.) and Mitchell College (12 p.m.)