NEED TO KNOW
 Score: No. 18 MIT 3, Smith College 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-16)
 Records: MIT (16-0, 6-0 NEWMAC); Smith (12-6, 2-3 NEWMAC)
 
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - A balanced attack helped propel nationally-ranked No .18 MIT to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 victory over Smith College in a NEWMAC women's volleyball match on Saturday afternoon. Four players led the Engineers with seven kills while Abby Sweeney (Spring, Tex./Klein) powered the Pioneers with 11 kills to go along with four blocks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: Smith jumped out to a 6-2 lead following back-to-back kills by Sweeney. Following an exchange of points, a kill by senior Annie Bryan kicked off an 8-2 run that gave MIT a 12-9 edge. The Pioneers stayed close, as an ace from Olivia Smith (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) brought the visitors within 14-13. The Engineers replied with a kill from junior Alyssa Unell, sparking an 11-5 set-ending run.
 
- Set 2: MIT quickly built a 9-3 advantage which grew to 17-9 after an ace by sophomore Emily Cheng. Smith battled back, closing the gap to 19-17 courtesy of kills by Sweeney and Olivia Smith (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais). The Engineers used a serving error and a block by Bryan and Cheng to create some breathing room as they went on to secure a 25-20 win.
 
- Set 3: MIT raced out to a 19-6 lead. Despite the deficit Smith continued to attack, putting together a 9-3 run which made the score 22-15. After trading points, the Engineers capitalized on a kill from graduate student Emily Condon and an ace by sophomore Ashley Margetts to clinch the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Olivia Smith (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) totaled six kills, six digs, and an ace while Gabby Beckman (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) led all players with 13 digs.
• Nathalie Pak (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) and Lilly Mearsheimer (Portland, Ore./Cleveland) dished out 20 and 12 assists, respectively, as Ava Zollinger (Orlando, Fla./Lake Highland Prep) produced three blocks for the Pioneers.

 UP NEXT
Smith will travel to NEWMAC foe WPI for a 7:00 p.m. match.
 
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.

(Recap courtesy to MIT Athletics)