Northampton, MA - The Smith College volleyball team secured another commanding win, sweeping WPI 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-16) at Ainsworth Gymnasium. The Pioneers improved to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in the NEWMAC, continuing their strong start to the season.

• Smith came out strong in the first set. Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) opened with a kill off an assist from Taylor Gwynne (Chapel HIll, NC/Carrborro), giving Smith an early 2-0 lead. WPI struggled to find their rhythm, and Smith took advantage with Abby Sweeney (Spring, TX/Klein) and Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) adding kills to extend the lead to 7-3.
• Smith's defensive efforts were key, as Anna Feuer (Frederick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson) and Sweeney combined for blocks, while Ari Cross (Milwaukee, WI/Rufus King) delivered a service ace to push the score to 13-5. Etheridge and Hunt continued to lead the attack, closing out the set 25-14.
• WPI put up more of a fight in the second set, tying the score several times. However, a crucial kill from Etheridge at 15-15 gave Smith the momentum they needed. Gwynne's precise setting led to a 4-point run, with Claudia Poehlmann (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) contributing a key attack to make it 19-16.
• Despite WPI's attempts to close the gap, Smith's defense, bolstered by blocks from Gwynne and Miranda Oakes (San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University), secured the 25-20 victory.
• Smith quickly built a 7-2 lead in the final set, with Sweeney, Oakes, and Feuer all contributing kills.
• WPI's errors allowed Smith to maintain control, with Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) adding another kill to make it 13-8.
• The Pioneers continued their dominance with another service ace from Feuer, and Cross capped off the match with a kill at 25-16, sealing the sweep.

• Smith hit an impressive .365 as a team, compared to WPI's .081, and controlled the match from start to finish.
• Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) led the way with Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) as they both had 10 kills. 
• Ruth Tullis (Edmond, OK/Oklahoma Christian School) led the team with digs, contributing 8.

Up Next

The Pioneers resume competition on Friday as they travel to New York City to take on Trinity (TX) and hosts New York University. Matches are at 2pm and 7pm on Friday evening.