Women’s Volleyball Falls to Smith College, 3-0

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College senior outside hitter Christina Martin (Chicopee, Mass.) downed six kills and recorded 13 digs, but Smith College's Mei Li Smith (Cypress, Calif.) smashed 12 kills, dished out 16 assists and notched nine digs to help lift the Pioneers to a 3-0 (25-13, 25-9, 29-27) sweep of the Blazers in Saturday afternoon's non-conference women's volleyball match at Picknelly Arena.

With the loss, Elms falls to 0-4 on the season, while Smith improves to 1-1 overall.

After Smith earned victories in the first two sets, the sides battled to 16 ties in the third frame and a 27-27 score before a pair of Elms miscues allowed the Pioneers to capture the third frame and the win in the match.

Smith got even distribution from its two setters as Smith handed out 16 assists, while Bethany Ashworth (North Falmouth, Mass.) added 17 helpers in the winning effort.

Blair Bell (Upper Montclair, N.J.) chipped in eight kills and eight digs, and Rosa Drummond (Rye, N.H.) delivered seven kills and a team-best 10 digs to help pave the way for the Pioneers.

Elms' freshman Shannon Bolton (Shelton, Conn.) and senior setter Erika Murphy (Torrington, Conn.) combined for 17 of the team's 20 assists, and freshman middle hitter Christine Searles (Tolland, Mass.) added five kills behind Martin's six to lead the Blazers in the losing effort.

Elms returns to Picknelly Arena for the last of its five-match home-stand on Tuesday, Sept. 11 when it hosts Westfield State University. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. at Picknelly Arena.