Northampton, MA — On Tuesday evening, the Smith College volleyball team faced off against Coast Guard Academy in an exciting NEWMAC matchup, securing a 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-17, 24-27, 25-20) at Ainsworth Gymnasium.  The Pioneers extended their record to 26-5, improving to 9-1 in NEWMAC play. This is Smith's best record in NEWMAC 

Match Highlights

• Smith started with energy, quickly establishing a lead through the efforts of Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) and Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay), each delivering three kills in the first few points.
• Coast Guard closed the gap midway, but Taylor Gwynne (Chapel Hill, NC/Carrborro) orchestrated the offense smoothly, setting up Hunt for a quick kill that energized the team and gave Smith a 17-13 advantage.
• Olivia Smith (Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais) added to the momentum with two aces, while Miranda Oakes (San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University) and Abby Sweeney (Spring, TX/Klein) combined for a key block at set point to close it at 25-19.
• Smith continued to roll in the second set, winning 25-17, thanks to Gwynne's effective distribution and Dankovich's consistent digging.
• An early 6-1 run, highlighted by Oakes's two kills and a perfectly timed block from Sweeney, put Smith ahead.
• Coast Guard struggled to break through Smith's defensive wall, with Etheridge covering the back row effectively, notching eight digs in the set.
• Dankovich added two aces to extend the lead to 20-13, and Sweeney's sharp cross-court kill capped the set, giving Smith a 2-0 advantage.
• The third set saw both teams in a tug-of-war, with 12 ties keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
• Coast Guard managed to win 27-25, but not without a fight from Smith.
• Etheridge and Hunt provided consistent offense, each landing four kills, while Gwynne continued to spread the ball effectively.
• Dankovich's timely digs kept Smith in the game as they fought back from a three-point deficit to tie the score at 24-24.
• Despite the late rally, Coast Guard squeezed out the set. 
• Smith rebounded in the fourth set, clinching the match with a 25-20 win. Sarah Dankovich (El Paso, TX/Coronado) led the charge with three consecutive aces, pushing Smith to an 8-3 lead early on. Hunt added six kills throughout the set, including a key cross-court kill that expanded the lead to 18-13.
• With Feuer and Oakes teaming up on blocks, Smith maintained control. Sweeney's kill down the line put Smith at match point, and Gwynne's final assist to Etheridge ended the set at 25-20, sealing the victory.

Box Score:

• Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) led Smith with 26 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and added three block assists.
• Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) contributed 16 kills, 15 digs, and two aces, maintaining pressure throughout the match.
• Taylor Gwynne (Chapel Hill, NC/Carrborro) facilitated the offense with 51 assists and added 12 digs, keeping Smith's attack smooth and versatile.

Up Next:

Smith looks to extend their 12 game winning streak against MIT on Saturday afternoon at 12pm in Ainsworth Gymnasium. The winner of the match will be the #1 seed and host for the NEWMAC playoffs the following week. 

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, and  Instagram.