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Box Score 2 SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--A spirited comeback fell just short as the Smith College volleyball team fell to Western New England University in the finals of the ECAC New England Tournament on Saturday. The Golden Bears, who won their second consecutive ECAC title, won 3-2 (20-25, 14-25, 25-19, 25-18, 6-15).
Smith finishes the year 23-9, the most wins since 2005. The Pioneers were seeking their first ECAC title since 1997, and were also runner-up in 1989.
Mei-Li Smith (Cypress, Calif./Cypress) and
Kristi Hammond (Yona, Guam/St. Johns School) both posted double-doubles . Smith had 11 kills and 14 digs and Hammond had 10 kills and 17 digs.
Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth), one of Smith's five seniors playing in her final collegiate game, had 13 kills, while another senior,
Bethany Ashworth (North Falmouth, Mass./Bourne), had 33 assists.
The Golden Bears took the first two sets by hitting .301 and limiting Smith to just .142 hitting, but Smith rebounded with defense and smart play, forcing Western New England to .103 hitting over the next two and never allowing WNE to lead in the third set. In the fifth set, WNE jumped out to a 9-4 lead on a kill by Tyler Singh. Smith got within 9-6 on back-to-back kills by
Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) and
Paige Sarlandt (Cloverdale, Calif./Cloverdale), but the Golden Bears scored the final six points of the set.
Earlier in the day, Smith turned the tables on top-seeded Salve Regina University, posted a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-17) win over the Seahawks to advance to the ECAC title game.
Smith had lost to Salve Regina 3-2 back on October 3, but turned in a dominating performance by limited Salve to just .028 hitting for the match. The Pioneers will play either Western New England University or Endicott College in the championship match at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Kristi Hammond (Yona, Guam/St. Johns School),
Paige Sarlandt (Cloverdale, Calif./Cloverdale), and
Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) led Smith with eight kills apiece.
