Need to Know
Score: Smith 3, Massachusetts Maritime 0
Records: Pioneers: 4-1, Buccaneers 0-3
Location: Northampton, Mass.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. - The Smith College volleyball team improved to 4-1 on the year after defeating Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 25-6, 25-11, 25-4 Tuesday night in Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers' victory was fueled by a .324 hitting percentage, including a .500 effort in the third set and 18 service aces.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• First year Olivia Smith (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) led all players with eight kills, followed by five apiece from classmates Abby Sweeney (Spring, Tex./Klein) and Ari Cross (Wauwatosa, Wisc./Rufus King). 
• Cross collected a game-best 13 digs while first-year Nathalie Pak (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) tallied 14 assists.
• This was the first meeting between these two schools. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 - The visitors took a 2-0 lead early on before Smith closed out the match on a 25-4 run. The Pioneers hit .304 in the opening set compared to -.077 for the Buccaneers.

Set 2 - MMA stayed close but back-to-back service aces by junior Gabby Beckman (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) generated momentum for the Pioneers as they pulled away for the 25-11 victory. 

Set 3 - Smith left no doubt in what would be the final set as they took an 8-0 lead on a kill from Sweeney. The Pioneers would eventually go on to win the set 25-5 after posting a .500 hitting percentage. 

UP NEXT
Smith hosts Amherst College Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.

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.