BOSTON – Simmons volleyball (0-5) was edged out by WPI (2-2) in four sets, 3-1, in a non-conference battle on Friday evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: WPI 25, Simmons 17
WPI engineered a strong start to the match, taking a 7-1 lead early and built themselves a seven-point, 11-4, lead before the Sharks were forced to call their first time out of the set. But the Simmons was not going down quietly.
 
Trailing by double figures late in the set, the Sharks went on 4-0 run to pull themselves to within six points. Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Pridgeon registered three service aces during the stretch, but it was not enough as the Engineers held on to take the set, 25-17.
 
Set 2: Simmons 25, WPI
Simmons answered and tied the match in the second set.  A pair of kills by graduate senior Zoë Chatterton during a 3-0 run gave the Sharks a 5-2 and they never looked back. The Sharks built themselves a six-point, 12-6, lead midway through set before WPI called their first timeout.
 
The Sharks remained hot increasing their lead to eight, 16-8, following an ace by sophomore Emily Ibarra late in the set. WPI chipped away at the deficit, pulling to within one point of the lead, but they were not quite able to put themselves over.
 
Chatterton was outstanding the set, posting a .300 attack percentage as she led the Sharks with five kills on 10 attempts and just two errors. Fellow graduate senior April Beatty paced the offense with seven assists along with sister and fellow setter Alicia Beatty, who chipped in with five assists.
 
Set 3: WPI 25, Simmons 20
After taking the second set and evening the match at one it sparked a new life for the Sharks. The third set was tight barnburner and with the match tied at 10, Simmons executive a 5-0 run to take a commanding 15-10 lead behind a pair of aces from April Beatty and a kill from junior Iliana Diaz.
 
It appeared as though momentum was changing directions, but WPI engineered their way back into the lead with a 10-2 run to take a 20-17 and they never looked back.
 
Set 4: WPI 25, Simmons 23
Simmons was not going to be denied and looked to force a deciding game five, jumping out to a 10-6 lead, behind back-to-back-to-back kills from Chatterton to start of the fourth set. The Sharks maintained their advantage throughout the majority of the set, increasing their lead to six, 18-12, late following an ace by April Beatty.
 
But the six-point lead evaporated. The Engineers went on an 8-0 to take a 20-18 lead. Simmons pulled back ahead by two, but momentum had already shifted back to the Engineers, who held on for the 25-23 win to earn their second win of the year.  
 
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Graduate senior Zoë Chatteron notched a season-best 20 kills on 43 attempts.
• Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Pridgeon registered her first double-double of the season, tallying 10 kills and 10 defensive digs.
• Graduate senior April Beatty paced the offense with a career single-game high 22 assists.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the hard-court on Thursday, September 12 when they travel to Salve Regina in Newport, Rhode Island at 7 p.m.