Northampton, MA – Smith Volleyball heads to New York City this weekend to face three ranked opponents. Riding the momentum of their best season start in program history, the Pioneers are eager to add more wins, having already defeated #18 Wesleyan at home last month.

Their weekend kicks off on Friday with a match against #21 Trinity at 2 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. clash with host #20 NYU. On Saturday, Smith will take on #22 Ithaca at 1 p.m.

Scouting Smith

• Picked 4th in the NEWMAC Preseason Poll, Smith is receiving votes in the AVCA National Poll for the third consecutive week.
• The Pioneers boast a 14-1 overall record and are 3-0 in NEWMAC play.
• Head coach Greg Walker is in his fourth season, having reached the playoffs each of the previous three years, including a NEWMAC semifinal appearance in 2022.
• Smith has four players in the NEWMAC's top 10 for hitting percentage: Abby Sweeney (Spring, TX/Klein), Addison Klunder (Los Angeles, CA/The Buckley School), Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay), and Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau).
• Taylor Gwynne (Chapel HIll, NC/Carrborro) leads the NEWMAC with 591 assists.

Scouting the Opponents

• Trinity
  • Began the season ranked #8 in the AVCA poll.
  • Currently holds an 8-5 record, with tough losses to Johns Hopkins and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
  • Head coach Julie Jenkins, in her 40th season, is the active leader in NCAA Division III wins.
  • Graduate student Mackenzie Logan leads the team in kills and attempts, hoping to guide Trinity back to the Elite 8 after last year's loss to eventual national champion Juniata.
• NYU
  • Began the season ranked #6 in the AVCA poll.
  • Holds a 10-6 record, with losses to Johns Hopkins and MIT.
  • Head coach Andrew Brown is in his seventh season and has led NYU to two Final Four appearances in the past three years.
  • Reigning AVCA Freshman of the Year Grace Nelson leads the team in kills. NYU reached the Final Four last year, where they lost to Juniata, the eventual national champion.
• Ithaca
  • Started the season ranked #19 in the AVCA poll.
  • Currently stands at 9-2, including a win over NEWMAC rival Springfield.
  • First-year head coach Tara Stilwell, formerly an assistant at Cornell, leads the Bombers.
  • Sophomore Naomi Clauhs leads Ithaca in kills. The Bombers lost to NYU in the Round of 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament and will be looking for revenge this weekend.