WAYNE, N.J. — Smith College recorded a perfect day at the Sports and Recreation Center, sweeping both William Paterson University (25-19, 25-18, 25-23) and Trine University (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) on Saturday.
The Bears showcased their offensive prowess, finishing the day with a hitting percentage of .260 against William Paterson and .301 against Trine, accumulating 39 kills in the first match and 41 in the second. Smith also excelled at the service line, recording 9 aces against William Paterson and 8 against Trine, though they faced challenges with service errors, totaling 9 in the first match and 13 in the second. Both matches highlighted Smith's strong defensive efforts, with the team tallying 39 digs against the Pioneers and 28 against the Thunder.
In the opening set against William Paterson, Smith established an early 4-1 lead, thanks to key contributions from
Claudia Poehlmann (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) and
Miranda Oakes (San Francisco, CA/San Francisco University).
Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) facilitated a dynamic attack, assisting on several kills, including two by
Addison Klunder (Los Angeles, CA/The Buckley School) that helped maintain the lead. A decisive 5-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from
Maddie Hliboki (Valley Village, CA/Harvard Westlake), propelled Smith to a 25-19 win.
The second set saw Smith capitalize on a strong offensive showing, going on a 3-0 run with kills from Oakes and Klunder, aided by
Skye Higashihara's (Honolulu, HI/'Iolani School) assists. Despite a brief rally from the Bears, Smith's steady play, including a pair of kills from
Olivia Mendoza (Chino Hills, CA/Ruben S. Ayala), led to a 25-18 victory. In the final set, Smith fought hard, with Oakes and Poehlmann contributing multiple kills, and Klunder sealing the match with back-to-back kills for a 25-23 win.
Against Trine, Smith started strong, taking a 2-0 lead with a kill from Oakes and an attack error by the Thunder. Klunder served during a crucial 7-0 run, extending the lead to 15-7, bolstered by kills from Etheridge and Mendoza, leading to a 25-18 victory in the first set. The second set showcased Poehlmann and Etheridge as key players, with Poehlmann securing critical kills that helped clinch a 25-19 win.
Smith maintained momentum, taking an early 3-0 lead in the third set, and despite a brief tie at 6-6, the Pioneers regained control late, with Etheridge and Oakes leading successful attacks to secure a 25-23 victory.
Individually, Oakes led Smith against William Paterson with 10 kills on 13 attempts for a .769 hitting percentage, along with four block assists for a total of 12 points.
Ruth Tullis (Edmond, OK/Oklahoma Christian School) was pivotal defensively, amassing 15 digs. Etheridge contributed significantly with six kills, four aces, and six digs. Klunder added 11 kills on 29 attempts.
Against Trine, Poehlmann led the defense with five blocks and nine kills on 19 attempts, while Feuer matched her blocking performance and contributed four kills. Higashihara was a standout facilitator, achieving 26 assists throughout the second match.
With these victories, Smith improved to 2-2 overall.
Looking ahead, Smith will face Dean College at Ainsworth Gym in Northampton, Mass., on September 5, with the match set to begin at 5 p.m.
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
