October 29, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Volleyball Defeats Mount Holyoke 3-1

Northampton, MA: Junior Mikal Minarich's (Hobart, IN) eight kills, three service aces and 8 digs helped the Pioneers defeat the Lyons of Mount Holyoke last night in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) competition. With the victory, Smith improved to 12-17 overall and 5-3 in the conference while the Lyons fell to 4-14 and 0-8.

The Pioneers dropped a close first set to the Lyons 25-23 before taking the match in the next three sets, 25-6, 25-10 and 25-14. Senior Courtney Parker (Berlin, MD) tallied 8 kills, sophomore Lauren Martinez (Phoenix, AZ) registered 17 assists with three aces, middle blocker Bethany Weiss (Windham, NH) added three kills with four aces and first year setter Courtney Faria (Bourne, MA) contributed with 11 digs and 14 assists in the victory for Smith.

Outside hitter Chelsea Tracy (St. Thomas, VI) led the Lyons with eight kills, nine digs and five blocks.  Sophomore Rosa Marruffo (Tulsa, OK) recorded 11 digs while Kateryna Kuc (New Haven, CT) tallied 15 assists in the Lyon's loss.

The Pioneers travel to non-conference opponent Eastern Connecticut State College on Thursday for a 7 pm match before returning home on Saturday, Nov. 1 to host Wellesley College at 1 p.m.

                                                           1             2               3                4
Smith (12-17,5-3)                            23            25             25               25
Mount Holyoke (4-14, 0-8)              25             6             10                14