October 7, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Pioneers Take Third at Seven Sisters Championship

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers came from behind in both the second and third games to defeat Bryn Mawr College (30-16, 33-31, 31-29)to finish third at the Seven Sisters Championship held at Vassar.

The Pioneers built a couple of ten point leads in the first game to easily win 30-16, but in the second and third games, Smith had to come from behind to take the match 3-0. In the second game, the Owls had a 20-13 advantage but Smith chipped away at the lead and tied it at 25. The game see-sawed back and forth with Bryn Mawr holding off Smith on three match points, 29-28, 30-29 and 31-30. Senior Katie Shafer (Red Bluff, CA) had two key kills during this exchange to make it 31-30 and 32-31 and Smith took the game on a Bryn Mawr attack error.

In the third game with Bryn Mawr ahead 17-13, the Pioneers again made their move and tied it up at 18 and then went ahead 21-19.  With the match tied up again at 28, the Pioneers outscored the Owls 3-1 to take the match. Mikal Minarich (Hobart, IN) had 12 kills and 15 assists for Smith while Shafer and Brianne Connizzo (Demarest, NJ) each tallied 16 digs and Shafer added 8 kills.  First year Lauren Martinez (Phoenix, AZ) registered a team high 19 assists in the victory.

The Pioneers will resume NEWMAC competition when they travel to WPI on Tuesday, Oct. 9 for a 7 pm contest.