October 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Volleyball Upsets 8th Ranked Plymouth State, Falls to Keene State

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers traveled to Mount Holyoke College today to take on Little East opponents Plymouth State College and Keene State College. Smith played a fantastic match against Plymouth State and upset the New England Women's Volleyball Association's (NEWVA) 8th ranked team in five sets.

The Pioneers won the first two sets by a total of six points and lost the next two by eight points and then rebounded in the final set to take the match. Smith struggled against Keene State and lost the match in three straight sets.

Senior co-captain Bethany Weiss (Windham, NH) led Smith with 27 kills, 2 service aces, 2 solo blocks and 3 block assists.  Setters Lauren Martinez (Phoenix, AZ) and Courtney Faria (Pocasset, MA) combined for 62 assists while Martinez served 6 aces and had 16 digs.  Senior Mikal Minarich (Hobart, IN) tallied 15 kills with one service ace and Brianne Connizzo (Demarest, NJ) had 37 digs.

The Pioneers return to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Tuesday night when they host Springfield College at 7 pm in Ainsworth Gym.

                                                                        1    2    3    4    5
Smith (6-13)                                                  25  26  23  19  15
Plymouth State (23-2)                                    21  24  25  25  12

                                                                       1       2     3
Smith (6-14)                                                  19    10    11
Keene State (11-16)                                      25    25    25