Box Score NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Smith College Volleyball Team (4-2) gave the home fans an exciting match to open the home portion of the 2014 season Thursday evening at Ainsworth Gym. The Pioneers defeated the Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (2-3) by a 3-2 (25-14, 18-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-9) score.

Smith jumped out to an early 8-1 lead in the first stanza, using the seven-point advantage to cruise to a 25-14 win. The Trailblazers rebounded with a win in the second set, but the Pioneers seized back control with 25-22 victory in set three. After MCLA tied the score with a 25-19 win in the fourth frame, Smith took an 8-4 lead in the decisive fifth set and never looked back, winning 15-9 to send the Pioneer faithful home happy.

Junior outside hitter/setter Mei-Li Smith (Cypress, Calif./Cypress) led the way offensively for Smith as she posted her second-straight triple-double, finishing with a match-best 16 kills while adding 15 assists and 28 digs. First-year setter/outside hitter Dayra Diaz Marquez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/New Mission) came close to topping Smith's performance, as she tallied nine kills, 24 assists and 17 digs. Sophomore opposite hitter Allison Hardy (Nashville, Tenn./University School of Nashville) notched her first double-double of the season, as she finished with 10 kills and 17 digs.

Sophomore libero Julie Voorhes (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) was one of five Pioneers to finish the match with double-digit digs, tallying 24 digs. Smith (28), senior defensive specialist Samantha Danguilan (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) (19), Marquez (17) and Hardy (17) were the other four to do so.

Smith will return to the court on Saturday when it travels to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. for the Seven Sisters Tournament. The Pioneers will open the five-team tournament against the host, Vassar College at 12:30 p.m.