Northampton, Mass. – October 20, 2009 – Sarah Lang-Rodean and Heather Lively combined for 39 kills as the Springfield College women’s volleyball team battled past Smith College, 3-1, in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match on Tuesday evening.
SC won by the game scores of 25-19, 25-23, 27-29, 27-25.
The win makes Springfield 23-3 on the year, including a 5-1 record in NEWMAC play. Smith drops to 6-14, 2-5 in conference action.
Lang-Rodean totaled a team-best 21 kills in the victory, with seven coming in the decisive fourth game, as she hit .514 for the match. She was especially dominant on the defensive side of the ball as well as she posted eight blocks, with three solo and five assisted. Lively, who was recently named the NEWMAC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week, pounded out 18 kills for the Pride while hitting .361.
Meaghan Hart added 21 digs in the game for Springfield, eight of which came in the fourth game. Kelsea Hellyar handed out 47 assists in the win, while Cassie Seymour added four aces and Itza Nieves recorded 15 digs.
Springfield, which is still receiving votes in this week’s AVCA national poll, will now prepare for a big weekend as it competes in the Volleyball Hall of Fame Classic. The Pride will enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed and will play Amherst on Friday evening at Smith College at 7:00 pm.
