NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- The Simmons University women's volleyball team was defeated by number 18 nationally-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 3-0 (25-8, 25-19, 25-19), before defeating host Smith College, 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-22) in a tri-match this afternoon in Northampton, Mass. The Sharks are now 4-6 on the season, while MIT is 10-1 and Smith is 1-8.

First year middle hitter Amanda Fortune (Round Rock, Texas) led Simmons on the day with 16 kills, eight total blocks and three aces, while owning a .294 hitting percentage. 

The Sharks were defeated in three sets to open the tri-match vs. MIT at Smith. Fortune put down seven kills, got up for five total blocks and served up an ace against the Engineers. Classmate Krissy Lloyd (Tampa, Fla.) hit .400 for the match with five kills and registered three total blocks. Sophomore setter Faith Gray-Williams (Nevada, Nev.) got down for nine digs, set for nine assists and spiked for a pair of kills. 

Simmons rebounded to close out the day with a 3-0 win over Smith, while hitting .222 as a team for the match. Fortune posted a .412 hitting mark and swung for nine kills to go with three blocks, two aces and four digs. Lloyd also swung for nine kills and Gray-Williams spiked for eight kills on a .353 hitting clip and added 15 assists, three digs and a pair of blocks. Sophomore libero Julia Fusco (Beverly, Mass.) picked up 22 digs, while first year Reilly Coombs (Deland, Fla.) scooped up 12 digs and spiked for seven kills.

The Sharks will be in action again on Tuesday, September 18 when they travel to North Dartmouth, Mass. to take on University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a 6:00 p.m. tilt.