NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The Smith College volleyball team (5-0) returns home for the first time in 11 days when the Pioneers host a quad match. Smith will face Western New England (8-0) at 12 p.m., and Lasell College (3-4) at 2 p.m. Also participating will be Castleton State (2-2), who will play Lasell at noon and Western New England at 2 p.m.
Last Meeting (Western New England): The Golden Bears staved off a Smith comeback with a 3-2 (24-26,15-25,25-17,25-21,8-15) win on September 4, 2012.
Last Meeting (Lasell): This is the first meeting between the schools.
The Series: Smith leads the series with WNE 5-3, but Western New England has won three of the last four. The two teams first met in 1983.
Fast Facts: Seven of Western New England's eight wins have been by 3-0 scores...the Golden Bears have wins over two Smith opponents already, in Simmons and Western Connecticut State...Western New England is the defending ECAC New England Champions...Lasell has lost four of five after winning their first two...the Lasers are hitting .101 as a team...Smith beat Western Connecticut State in five sets, coming back from down 2-0 to win...the Pioneers were 0-6 six in five set matches last year...Smith will look for its sixth straight win, the most since 2005.
Next Up: Smith will open up conference play with a visit from Clark University on September 17. Western New England will play at Tufts on September 18, and Lasell will host Regis on September 16.
