ITHACA, N.Y. — Smith College faced two tough opponents at the Ithaca Invitational, falling to NYU and Ithaca College in consecutive matches.
In their first matchup, NYU swept Smith College 25-9, 25-21, 25-14. NYU's potent offense was highlighted by 38 kills and a .329 hitting percentage, while the Bears struggled to find their rhythm, committing 19 attack errors. NYU's serving was also a decisive factor, with 14 aces contributing to their dominant performance.
The first set began with a challenging start for the Bears, as NYU opened with an 8-0 run, fueled by four service aces from Grace Nelson. Smith managed to halt the streak with a kill by
Uma Schulz (Riverwoods, IL/Deerfield High School), but NYU maintained pressure, increasing their lead to 14-2. Smith found some rhythm late in the set with a small surge, including a kill by
Alison Chapin (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley High School) and a block from Schulz and
Claudia Poehlmann (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech), narrowing the gap to 21-9, but it was not enough to overcome NYU's early advantage, as they secured the set 25-9 with a final service ace from Nelson.
In the second set, Smith started with an impressive run, capitalizing on NYU's errors to gain a 9-1 lead, highlighted by
Mia Etheridge's (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) service prowess, including three aces.
Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) contributed with crucial kills, keeping Smith competitive as the set progressed. Despite the strong opening, NYU rallied back, using consistent play from Casey Cho to secure a 25-21 victory in a tightly contested set.
Smith opened the third set with a competitive edge, marked by
Uma Schulz's (Riverwoods, IL/Deerfield High School) early kill to tie the score at 1-1. Despite their efforts, NYU built momentum with a series of service aces and kills, pulling ahead to an 18-10 lead. Smith continued to fight, with
Claudia Poehlmann (Chicago, IL/Lane Tech) registering a kill to narrow the gap, but NYU maintained control to secure the set 25-14.
Uma Schulz (Riverwoods, IL/Deerfield High School) led the Bears with six kills on 10 attempts, resulting in a .500 hitting percentage.
Skye Higashihara (Honolulu, HI/'Iolani School) contributed with 11 assists and added two digs.
Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) delivered three service aces and collected five digs, while
Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) recorded four kills and five digs across three sets. The Bears hold a 9-4 overall record after this match.
Later in the day, Smith College faced Ithaca College, which also ended in a sweep, with Ithaca winning 25-15, 25-20, 25-14. Ithaca's efficient attack was marked by a .252 hitting percentage, outpacing the Bears' .018. The match featured strong defensive performances, with the Bears recording 53 digs to Ithaca's 50.
The first set began with the Bears making a strong impression, as
Abby Hunt (Mandeville, LA/Fontainebleau) contributed early with a kill at a critical juncture. The momentum shifted with a service ace from Hunt, followed by a kill from
Olivia Teske (Minneapolis, MN/South High Minneapolis), narrowing the gap as they reached 18-26. Despite a brief surge with
Mia Etheridge's (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) kill, Ithaca's consistent kills, particularly by Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu, solidified their advantage, closing the set at 25-15.
In the second set, the Bears quickly responded to Ithaca's early scoring with a kill by Etheridge from
Ruby Woodward (Winchester, MA/Winchester). Despite a series of attack errors impacting their momentum, the Bears found a rhythm late in the set with key contributions from
Alison Chapin (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley High School) and Teske, supported by assists from
Hana Suzuki (Chattanooga, TN/East Hamilton High School). Ithaca ultimately secured the set 25-20, but the Bears showcased resilience.
The third set began with Ithaca maintaining control, capitalizing on early errors by the Bears. Despite the Bears' efforts, including a kill by
Uma Schulz (Riverwoods, IL/Deerfield High School) and a brief rally led by
Anna Feuer (Frederick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson) and Teske, they struggled to close the gap. A late surge by Ithaca sealed the set at 25-14.
Etheridge led the team with seven kills and added nine digs. Suzuki orchestrated the offense with 12 assists and also served one ace. Woodward provided versatility with eight assists, one kill, and eight digs, while Feuer recorded four kills and led the team with four block assists.
The Bears hold an overall record of 9-5 following the Ithaca Invitational. Looking ahead, they will travel to New London, CT, to face the United States Coast Guard Academy. The match is set for 6 p.m. on September 23.
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.
