WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - The Smith College volleyball team split a pair of non-conference contests today during a tri-match at Eastern Connecticut State University's Geissler Gymnasium. The Pioneers bested WNE, 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 26-24, 25-21), before falling to the Warriors, 3-1 (12-25, 20-25, 25-21, 18-25). The win snapped an eight game losing streak for Smith.

Smith 3 Western New England 1

Tied at 9-9 in the first set, the Pioneers scored eight of the next nine points to take a commanding 17-10 lead en route to claiming the first set.

Western New England rebounded with a 25-20 win in the second frame, hitting a match-best .184. The Golden Bears were on the verge of taking a 2-1 lead in the match, as they held a commanding 24-17 advantage in the third set, but Smith put together a late rally to win the frame.

Leading 5-4 in the fourth set, the Pioneers strung together six straight points to open up an 11-4 cushion. Smith eventually extended its advantage to nine (16-7), before an 11-0 Western New England run, fueled by four kills from Skibinski, saw the Golden Bears claim an 18-16 edge. Western New England still led by two (21-19) following an attack error, but a late Smith run sealed the 3-1 victory for the Pioneers.

First-year outside hitter Kimani Freeman (Newark, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy) led the way for the Pioneers, totaling 14 kills, six digs and four service aces. Junior Elizabeth Peay (Lebanon, Conn./Lyman Memorial) added 13 kills and three digs while senior libero Julie Voorhes (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) and sophomore defensive specialist Michelle Wong (San Francisco, Calif./Lowell) each finished with 14 digs. Sophomore setter Maca Rojas (Santiago, Chile/Liceo No. 1 Javiera Carrera) tied her career high with 31 assists. 

For the Golden Bears, Caitlyn Sibiskie tallied a season-high 37 assists to go with eight digs, two kills and one block assists. Classmate Carly Skibinski matched her career-high with 19 kills while making just four errors in 34 attempts (.441).


Eastern Connecticut State 3 Smith 1

Freeman finished with nine kills while Rojas recorded a team best 16 assists and 14 digs. 

The Pioneers host Framingham State University Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.