Box Score Down 24-19 in the third set, the Smith College Volleyball Team ran off four consecutive points to pull within 24-23.  But an Ursinus kill on the next serve ended the match as the Bears held on for a straight set victory in the first game of the 2015 Smith Invitational.

Ursinus (4-3) opened the match with a 25-23 first set win before taking the second set 25-18 over the homestanding Pioneers (1-3). 

Elizabeth Peay (Lebanon, Conn./Lyman Memorial) led Smith with nine kills while Ella Prince (New York, N.Y./Rudolf Steiner) and Mei-Li Smith (Cypress, Calif./Cypress), in her season debut, each added five.  For the match, both teams recorded 24 kills.

Julie Voorhes (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) recorded 24 digs to lead the Smith defense, the second-most digs in a three-set match in her career.  Smith added 17, her most in a three-set match since September 7, 2013 at Colby.

The fierce Smith front line recorded six blocks, with Ella Prince (New York, N.Y./Rudolf Steiner) and Jenna Rubin (Norfolk, Conn./Suffield Academy) each posting two. 

The Pioneers return to the court on Saturday as the Smith Invitational continues.  Smith hosts Husson at 11 a.m. and Middlebury at 3 p.m.