Volleyball Posts 3-1 Win over Smith at Hall of Fame Invitational

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -  The Bridgewater State University volleyball team opened the Hall of Fame Invitational with a 3-1 victory over host Smith College on Friday evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

The Bears (11-17) claimed the victory over the Pioneers (4-19) by the set scores of 27-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-19.

Senior outside hitter Clara Goncalves (Dennis, Mass.) led the BSU attack with 11 kills while junior outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) and junior middle hitter Sydney Bennett (North Attleboro, Mass.) each contributed ten winners. Junior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) tallied 37 assists, and junior libero Samantha Fasoli (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) collected a match-high 18 digs.

Senior outside hitter Mei-Li Smith (Cypress, Calif.) filled the stat sheet for the Pioneers with 15 assists, 11 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Xela Miller (Granada Hills, Calif.) added seven kills, while freshman setter Macarena Rojas (Maipu, Santiago, Chile) finished with a team-high 17 assists. 

The opening set was close throughout. With the score knotted at 25-25, senior middle hitter Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, Mass.) put the Bears on top with a kill. A Smith attacking error then gave BSU the set. Maymon, Goncalves and freshman right side hitter Elizabeth Roberts (Swansea, Mass.) tallied three kills apiece in the opener while Panner dished out 11 assists.

Maymon, Bennett and Goncalves notched three kills apiece in the second set while Hutchins recorded three blocks (two solo) as the Bears pulled away for a 25-17 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Junior libero Julie Voorhers (Ramona, Calif.) served Smith to five straight points in the third set, giving the Pioneers a 19-10 lead they would not relinquish as they went on to win the set.

Bennett registered three kills and four blocks (two solo) to lead the Bears to a match-clinching 25-19 victory in the fourth set. Goncalves added three kills in the set, while Panner tallied eight assists, six digs, a kill, an ace and two assisted blocks. 

Both teams wrap up the Hall of Fame Invitational on Saturday. The Pioneers entertain Hamilton at 10 a.m. and Vassar at 2 p.m, while the Bears head to Amherst College for a 10 a.m. match with Westfield State and a noontime match with the host Lady Jeffs.