BABSON PARK, Mass. — Smith College dropped its first match of the season Saturday, falling to William Smith 25-18, 25-20, 25-17 in the opener before answering with a 23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-17 win over Union (N.Y.) to close the New England Classic at Babson College. The Bears moved to 10-1.
Against William Smith, Smith never found its offense, hitting .051 on 29 kills and 24 errors while the Herons put down 39 kills at a .202 clip and served nine aces. Anna Feuer (Frederick, MD/Governor Thomas Johnson) paced the Bears with eight kills on 13 swings (.538) and four block assists, and Sara Warren (Long Beach, CA/Sato) added a team-high five block assists. Smith led 8-5 in the second set before William Smith reeled off five straight points, and a 12-9 Bears advantage in the third disappeared as the Herons took seven of the next eight, Jayden Hanson serving back-to-back aces along the way. Hanson finished with 20 assists, four aces and five blocks, while Cassidy Breuer led all hitters with 11 kills. Ruth Tullis (Edmond, OK/Oklahoma Christian School) dug nine balls and Skye Higashihara (Honolulu, HI/'Iolani School) added 10 assists and nine digs.
The nightcap flipped the script. Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, CA/Half Moon Bay) turned in the day's best line, hammering 23 kills on 40 attempts without an error for a .575 clip and adding 11 digs for a double-double. Alison Chapin (Temecula, CA/Temecula Valley High School) contributed 15 kills at .407 and Nola Gannon (Dallas, Texas/Townview TAG) put down nine at .389 with five block assists. After dropping a tight opening set, Smith hit .394, .452 and .382 over the final three, closing the match at .361 as a team against Union's .109. Hana Suzuki (Chattanooga, TN/East Hamilton High School) (24 assists) and Higashihara (27 assists) split setting duties, Natalia Rossi (Mebane, North Carolina/Eno River Academy) picked up 10 digs and two aces, and Feuer chipped in three aces and five block assists. Johanna Melhorn led Union with eight kills and five blocks.
Smith opens NEWMAC play Tuesday at 7 p.m., hosting Coast Guard at Ainsworth Gym.
About Smith Athletics
Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.
