WELLESLEY, Mass. — Smith College defeated Wellesley College 3-1 on Saturday at Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse, with set scores of 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 25-13. The Bears capitalized on strong blocking, registering 10 total blocks, and benefited from 40 kills on a .180 hitting percentage. Wellesley managed to take the second set but was unable to maintain momentum, as the Bears closed out the match decisively in the fourth set. With the win, Smith advances to the NEWMAC Quarterfinals for the fifth consecutive year. They look to defend their 2024 NEWMAC Championship Title.

The Bears began the first set with a strong showing, initially trading points with Wellesley. The visitors managed to keep the score tight through the early exchanges with notable kills from Miranda Oakes (San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University) and Anna Feuer (Frederick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson). As the set progressed, the team capitalized on several errors by Wellesley, including attack errors by Evelyn Hill and Logan Wilson, to maintain momentum.

Midway through the set, Smith leveled the score at 8-8 with a kill from Olivia Teske (Minneapolis, MN/South High Minneapolis). Alison Chapin's (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley High School) service ace and subsequent points extended their lead, allowing the Bears to pull ahead 13-12. Strong defensive blocks by Addison Klunder (Los Angeles, CA/The Buckley School) and Oakes further frustrated Wellesley, contributing to the gradual build of a commanding lead.

The Bears maintained their advantage through the closing stages, with decisive plays from Feuer and Klunder. A series of Wellesley errors, including a service ace from Skye Higashihara (Honolulu, HI/'Iolani School), secured the first set for the Bears, as they closed it out 25-18.

The second set began with the Bears striving to overcome a slow start after Wellesley took an early lead. Klunder's initial attack errors allowed Wellesley to edge ahead, but Smith responded with a kill from Oakes, leveling the score at 2-2. Wellesley then regained momentum, capitalizing on Smith's errors to extend their lead to 6-2.

The Bears rallied midway through the set, with Feuer and Klunder igniting a sequence of kills that narrowed the deficit to 8-8. However, Wellesley responded with a series of successful plays, including kills from Kaija Kunze-Hoeg and Hill, pushing their advantage to 12-9.

Despite a late push by the Bears that included a block by Teske and Feuer, Wellesley maintained their offensive pressure. Natalie Dabrowski and Else Kunze-Hoeg contributed crucial points, helping Wellesley secure the set at 25-18.

Smith entered the third set trailing slightly but managed to shift momentum in their favor. Early exchanges saw both teams trading points, with the Bears capitalizing on a service error by Wellesley to stay close. Key contributions came from Oakes, who delivered a critical kill, and Feuer's block that forced an attack error from Wellesley, keeping Smith in contention.

As the set progressed, the Bears closed the gap with consistent play. Uma Schulz (Riverwoods, IL/Deerfield High School) added a service ace, while Klunder and Chapin combined for a crucial block, preventing Wellesley from extending their lead. Smith pulled ahead late in the set, with successful kills from Oakes and Chapin providing the edge needed to gain a slight advantage.

In the closing moments, the Bears maintained their composure under pressure. Key defensive plays, including back-to-back blocks by Chapin and Oakes, helped secure a lead. Schulz and Chapin closed the set with decisive kills, allowing the Bears to win the set 25-23, thus extending their match lead.

The Bears began the fourth set with a strong start, quickly establishing a lead through a series of decisive plays. Klunder initiated the momentum with a kill assisted by Hana Suzuki (Chattanooga, TN/East Hamilton High School), followed by Oakes contributing two kills, and Chapin adding another to extend the Bears' advantage to 6-0.

Smith's defense forced multiple errors from Wellesley, further widening the gap. Despite Wellesley responding with a few points, the Bears maintained their lead with consistent scoring from various players, including kills from Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) and Schulz. The Bears secured the set with a kill by Schulz, closing the set at 25-13.

Oakes led the defensive effort with seven total blocks, contributing significantly to the team's front-line defense. Feuer posted an efficient performance with a hitting percentage of .636, adding seven kills without an error. Suzuki facilitated the offense effectively, distributing 23 assists across the match. Chapin added eight kills and three service aces, accumulating a total of 12.5 points.

The Bears hold a 19-11 overall record with a 7-4 mark in NEWMAC play. Wellesley stands at 11-13 overall and 4-7 in the NEWMAC standings. They play host to Coast Guard on Tuesday, with first serve at 7pm in the NEWMAC Quarterfinals. Tickets can be found on gosmithbears.com

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 onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram