Northampton, MA — On Saturday afternoon, the Smith Volleyball team faced a challenging doubleheader at Ainsworth Gymnasium, resulting in a hard-fought loss to MIT and a commanding win over Union. This concludes the regular season for Smith as they move onto the NEWMAC playoffs, starting on Tuesday evening.   

Match Highlights

• MIT proved to be a tough opponent, handing Smith a 3-0 loss (17-25, 12-25, 22-25) in a competitive NEWMAC conference showdown.
• Smith started strong, with Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) and Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) each landing kills to keep the set close early on.
• However, a powerful serving run from MIT gave the visitors a decisive edge.
• Despite Taylor Gwynne's (Chapel Hill, NC/Carrborro) quick sets and Sarah Dankovich's (El Paso, TX/Coronado) defensive efforts, Smith fell 17-25.
• MIT dominated the second set, winning 25-12. Smith's attack struggled to gain momentum, though Olivia Teske (Minneapolis, MN/South High Minneapolis) contributed with a high hitting percentage in her limited attempts.
• Dankovich recorded critical digs, but MIT's offense proved too powerful. Smith fought back in the third set, rallying to tie the score multiple times.
• Hunt delivered timely kills to keep the set within reach, but MIT closed out the set 25-22 with a strong finish, securing the sweep.
• In the second match of the day, Smith rebounded impressively to defeat Union College 3-0 (25-21, 25-9, 25-15), showcasing a balanced offense and dominant serving.Smith started off with a bang, building a quick lead behind a strong offensive push from Hunt and Etheridge.
• Abby Sweeney (Spring, TX/Klein) added a critical block helping Smith close out the set 25-21.
• The Pioneers maintained control in the second set, winning 25-9. Smith's offense was firing on all cylinders, with Miranda Oakes (San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University) and Anna Feuer (Frederick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson) anchoring the front line.
• Gwynne's 26 assists led the way, and Sweeney closed the set with a powerful kill.
• Smith sustained their momentum in the third set, as Klunder added three aces and Dankovich's defense limited Union's scoring.
• Hunt finished the match with a high-efficiency kill, securing the set 25-15 and completing the sweep.

Box Score:

• Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) led Smith across both matches with 22 total kills.
• Taylor Gwynne (Chapel Hill, NC/Carrborro) registered 55 assists across the two matches. 

Up Next:

Smith will enter postseason play as the #3 seed in the NEWMAC playoffs. They face off against Wellesley College at 7pm in Ainswroth Gymnasium. This completes the regular season as Smith finishes the season 27-6 for their best regular season record to date. 

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.