Simmons University

BOSTON, Mass. — Simmons University Volleyball hosted a tri-match at the Holmes Center where they played matches against Dean College and Bates College. The Sharks started the day off strong by sweeping the Bulldogs before dropping a 3-2 decision against the Bates Bobcats.

Simmons vs. Dean

• After some early back-and-forth action left the score at 3-3 early on, Audra Merkelis of the Sharks contributed three kills to help Simmons go up, 10-5. The Sharks didn't look back, scoring seven straight on their way to a 25-9 win.
• The Sharks opened up the second set with five points in a row before Dean responded with four of their own. Both teams traded blows until the Sharks went on an 8-0 run midway through the set, ultimately winning 25-14.
• Leading 15-13 in the third set, consecutive kills by Hannah Pridgeon and a string of errors by the Bulldogs helped the Sharks cap off their sweep with a 25-14 victory.

Simmons vs. Bates

• Bates raced off to a 4-0 lead and led the Sharks until Simmons held their first lead of the day, 10-9. The score flip flopped for the remainder until the Sharks tallied four straight to go ahead, 23-17 en route to the 25-19 win.
• Trading points early in the second before Simmons began to chip away and lead the Bobcats by a score of 15-9. The Bobcats trimmed the deficit to come within one point (15-14). Simmons, however, did not give up their lead to secure the 25-22 win and 2-0 advantage.
• In the third and fourth frames, the visitors quieted the Sharks, winning the third by a score of 25-11 and the fourth by 25-14.
• Forcing a fifth set, both sides were looking to secure the victory and it was tight back and fourth. The scoreboard was jammed up three times before Simmons locked it up for the fourth time at 12-all. Bates scored three times to upset the Sharks, 15-12.

Beyond the Box Score

• Carolina Rodriguez recorded her fifth and sixth-straight game with double-digit digs with 12 against Dean and 19 against Bates. 
• First-year, Sophia Scott eclipsed double-digit kills for the first time of her career against Bates with 11.
• Rookie Gabrielle Pattie has now dished out 40+ assists in two of the last three games.
• With the win against Dean College, the Sharks start their conference schedule undefeated.
• The Sharks travel to Milton, Mass. to play the Curry College Colonels on Thursday, September 12.