NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College volleyball team picked up wins over Western New England University, 3-2 (25-22, 18-25 11-25, 25-11, 15-9), and Regis College, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-16), Saturday afternoon in the home-opener for the Pioneers.

Smith 3 WNEU 2
The first set remained close until the Golden Bears jumped out to a 14-10 lead on a service ace from Ashley Matthews. Smith maintained their composure and put together a 5-0 run to claim a 22-18 lead clinched the set on a service error from the visitors. 

The Golden Bears would take the next two sets before Smith earned a convincing 25-11 win in the fourth set. The Pioneers took the momentum to the final game and came away with a 15-9 victory, winning the last four points. 

Ava Zollinger (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep) led the way with 15 kills and a .423 hitting percentage, while Evi Evgeniou (Thessaloniki, Greece/Pinewood International) finished with 29 assists. Defensively, Kimani Freeman (Newark, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy) and Jody Huang (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) combined for 33 digs.

Smith 3 Regis 0

In the first set, a service ace by Regis created a 7-7 tie, but Smith won the next four points, including consecutive service aces by Kimani Freeman (Newark, N.J./Montclair Kimberly Academy). Katryna Veasey earned three kills and a solo block later in the set to put the Pride back on top, 17-16, but the Pioneers closed out the set with a 9-4 scoring run, capped by a kill from Claire Cicchetti (Menlo Park, Calif./Woodside).

The second set followed a similar pattern, as a kill by Lauren Butt tied the set at 6-6 before Smith went on a 7-2 scoring run. Down 21-14, Regis rallied with a 7-2 scoring run, as a kill by Karly Sanborn brought the Pride within two at 23-21, but the Pioneers held off the rally, clinching the set on a kill by Ava Zollinger (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep).

The Pride took a 7-5 lead early in the third set before Smith rattled off a 13-4 scoring stretch, punctuated by consecutive blocks from Zollinger. Pires earned two kills late in the set to keep the Pride alive, but Smith finished off the set and the match on a kill by Caleigh Johnson (Georgetown, Texas/St. Dominic Savio Catholic).

Amy Hagen (Owings, Md./Northern) led the Pioneers with 10 kills and a .588 hitting percentage, while Cicchetti finished with nine kills on a .438 hitting percentage. Evi Evgeniou (Thessaloniki, Greece/Pinewood International) earned 24 assists, three kills, two service aces, and five digs, and Jody Huang (Cranston, R.I./Cranston) contributed three assists, three service aces, and a match-high 13 digs to the winning effort.

UP NEXT
Smith hosts New England College Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m.

(Portions of this recap courtesy to Regis Athletics)