NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College volleyball team (6-11) faces its first opposition from the Little East Conference this season when the Pioneers take on Keene State College (12-11) and Plymouth State University (9-14) in Keene, N.H. on Saturday. 

Last Meeting (Keene State): The Owls took a 3-0 (20-25, 17-25, 17-25) on October 15, 2011.

Last Smith Win (Keene State): Smith edged out the Owls in a close four set match, winning 3-1 (30-13, 33-31, 23-30, 30-22) on October 12, 2007.

Last Meeting (Plymouth State): Smith took the first set, but fell in the next three in a 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 19-25, 21-25) defeat to the Panthers on October 15, 2011.

Last Smith Win (Plymouth State): Smith staved off the Panthers' comeback attempt to win 3-2 (25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12) on October 17, 2009.

Smith Overview: Smith returned home on Tuesday night with a 3-0 (23-25, 21-25, 23-25) NEWMAC loss to Coast Guard.  Blair Bell (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair Kimberly) had nine kills and hit .692 to lead the Pioneers, who fell to 2-4 in the NEWMAC. 

Keene State Overview: The Owls have won three of five, including five set wins over Union and SUNY-Potsdam at the Interleague Challenge last weekend.  Keene State sits in third place in the Little East Conference, just behind co-leaders UMass-Boston and Western Connecticut State.

Plymouth State Overview:  The Panthers beat Southern Maine in their most recent game, after playing the last nine on the road.  PSU had competed at the Tom Hay Invitational at Springfield College, and the JWU Fall Classic at Johnson & Wales.

Smith Player to Watch: Paige Sarlandt (Cloverdale, Calif./Cloverdale) is quietly having an excellent season, with 25 solo blocks, 18 block assists, and has made just seven errors in 94 attack attempts.

Keene State Player to Watch: Angela Silveri has a team high 218 kills and averages 2.60 per set.

Plymouth State Player to Watch: Kirsten Perrotta is averaging 7.78 assists per game, with a total of 560.

Did you know? Smith head coach Fran Vandermeer used to coach in the Little East, at Eastern Connecticut State University in the 2010 season.