October 5, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Volleyball Falls to Amherst 3-0

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers fell to valley rival Amherst College 30-13,30-26 and 30-17 last night at Amherst. With the loss, Smith fell to 6-8 overall while Amherst improved to 14-1.

Co-captain Katie Shafer (Red Bluff, CA) led the attack for Smith with 8 kills, four service aces and 11 digs.  First year Laurel Belton (San Bernadino, CA) added 11 digs while sophomore Brianne Connizzo (Demarest, NJ) contributed with 10.  First year Lauren Martinez (Phoenix, AZ) and sophomore Mikal Minarich (Hobart, IN) each had 11 assists in the loss for Smith.

Amherst opened the evening with a comfortable win in the first game but Smith began the second game taking a 10-5 lead. Amherst chipped away at the lead and with the score 26-24 (Amherst), the Jeffs held on to take the game.  The third game was notched at 14-14 but Amherst went on a 13-1 run to take the final game.

The Pioneers travel to Vasar College for the Seven Sisters Championship this weekend.  On Saturday, Smith will play Elms College at noon and Wellesley at 4 p.m. and will play again on Sunday at either 10 am or noon.