WALTHAM, Mass. - After a tough fight, the Smith College volleyball team fell 3-0 to Brandeis in their season opener Friday evening in Auerbach Arena.

Following a first set loss of 25-10, Smith (0-1) gained some energy and followed that performance with a 25-16 second-set defeat.

Brandeis (2-0) was paced by Emma Bartlett's nine kills and Yvette Cho's 17 digs.

The Pioneers will be back in Auerbach Arena tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. to take on Mount Saint Mary College before challenging Rhode Island College at 1:00 p.m.

Brandeis 3, Smith 0
September 1, 2017
Auerbach Arena, Waltham, Mass.

SMITH HIGHLIGHTS

• Newcomers Caleigh Johnson and Amy Hagen (Owings, Md./Northern) made their collegiate debut against the Judges.
• Johnson tallied seven kills, while Hagen recorded five kills and four digs in their first match.
• Rojas totaled a double-double of 24 assists and 11 digs.
• Elizabeth Peay (Lebanon, Conn./Lyman Memorial) registered five kills and 10 digs over the course of the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1
Early in the set, Brandeis held an 8-1 edge. After a kill by Kimani Freeman to make the score 15-8, the Judges took advantage of Smith errors to go on a 4-0 run and an eventual 25-10 set one win.

SET 2
A kill from Peay tied set match at 6-6, but a 6-1 streak propelled the Judges to take a 14-8 lead.Errors down the stretch allowed Brandeis to prevail 25-16.

SET 3
In the most competitive set of the evening, Johnson's two kills gave the Pioneers their only lead of the evening at 2-0. That seemed to wake up the Judges as they answered back with eight consecutive points. Freeman's hammer kept Smith in the game at 18-15, but Brandeis would ultimately go on to win 25-18.

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.