Springfield, Mass. - October 2, 2018 - The Springfield College women's volleyball team eased its way past Smith in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) meeting on Tuesday in Blake Arena.  Springfield won the scores of 25-13, 25-19, 25-16.

Springfield pushed its record to 16-2, 6-0 on conference play, while Smith dropped to 2-14, 0-5.  This Pride once again appeared among those teams receiving votes in today's American Volleyball Coaches Assocation (AVCA) Division III National Coaches Poll. 

Springfield's entire lineup saw action in the game as the hosts hit .381, with 10 players having at least one kill.  Bridget Walsh (Garrison, N.Y.) led the way with a career-best 12 kills at a .588 clip, while Jen Donnelly (Exeter, R.I.) totaled seven kills and eight digs.  Sara Labadorf (Huntersville, N.C.) registered 30 assists and three aces and classmate Ashley Tanner (Manorville, N.Y.) produced five kills and four aces of her own.   

Springfield used a four-point burst to gain a 13-8 cushion in the opening set as the Pride benefited from three early kills by Walsh to set the tone to force Smith into a timeout.  Out of the break, Springfield continued to find Walsh in the middle, as the junior accounted for four kills as part of another 5-0 surge to give the hosts a comfortable 18-8 edge.  The Pride's lead would soar to 20-8 following back-to-back aces from Tanner before eventually take the 25-13 win on a kill from Gabrielle Bradley (Fairfax, Va.).  Springfield totaled 14 kills on a .440 hitting percentage in the set, with Walsh delivering seven kills. 

The Pride struggled to get into a rhythm in the second set and Smith took advantage by seizing a 13-7 lead and forcing the hosts into a timeout.  Out of the break, Springfield manufactured a 12-2 run, with Labadorf posting consecutive aces to lead the way.  Springfield would again be incredibly efficient offensively, getting 15 kills on a .424 hitting percentage to take the 25-19 victory following a big swing from Kayley Cimino (Cumberland, Maine).

Demi Spanos (West Harrison, N.Y.) and Kait Bonsignore (St. Louis, Mo.) teammed for a huge stuff at 8-3 in the third, but the Pioneers would pull within 10-9 on a Pride miscue.  However, Springfield would get a momentum-shifting block from Walsh and Hayley Kmetz (Ardsley, N.Y.) to kickstart a 8-1 run that put the set out of reach at 18-10 after a kill by Walsh.  Walsh and Stella Madden (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) would put the finishing touches on the night, teamming for a block on the pin to compete the 25-16 win.    

The Pride will play Westfield State in a non-conference match on Friday night at 6 pm.