THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 18 MIT 3, Smith College 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-16)
 
- Records: MIT (16-0, 6-0 NEWMAC); Smith (12-6, 2-3 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: A balanced attack helped propel nationally-ranked No .18 MIT to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-16 victory over Smith College in a NEWMAC women's volleyball match on Saturday afternoon. Four players led the Engineers with seven kills while Abby Sweeney powered the Pioneers with 11 kills to go along with four blocks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: Smith jumped out to a 6-2 lead following back-to-back kills by Sweeney. Following an exchange of points, a kill by senior Annie Bryan (Kirkwood, Mo.) kicked off an 8-2 run that gave MIT a 12-9 edge. The Pioneers stayed close, as an ace from Olivia Smith brought the visitors within 14-13. The Engineers replied with a kill from junior Alyssa Unell (Scottsdale, Ariz.), sparking an 11-5 set-ending run.
 
- Set 2: MIT quickly built a 9-3 advantage which grew to 17-9 after an ace by sophomore Emily Cheng (Sunnyvale, Calif.). Smith battled back, closing the gap to 19-17 courtesy of kills by Sweeney and Olivia Smith. The Engineers used a serving error and a block by Bryan and Cheng to create some breathing room as they went on to secure a 25-20 win.
 
- Set 3: MIT raced out to a 19-6 lead. Despite the deficit Smith continued to attack, putting together a 9-3 run which made the score 22-15. After trading points, the Engineers capitalized on a kill from graduate student Emily Condon (Orange, Calif.) and an ace by sophomore Ashley Margetts (Brownsburg, Ind.) to clinch the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Bryan registered seven kills and five blocks while junior Lilly Edwards (Kansas City, Mo.), sophomore Allison Brattley (Fleetwood, Pa.), and first-year Ella Gragg (Morganton, N.C.) each posted seven kills.
 
- Cheng generated 33 assists, four blocks, and two aces as first-year Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) recorded 12 digs. Senior Margaret Wang (Rockville, Md.) rounded out MIT with five digs and a match-high three aces.
 
- Olivia Smith totaled six kills, six digs, and an ace while Gabby Beckman led all players with 13 digs.
 
- Nathalie Pak and Lilly Mearsheimer dished out 20 and 12 assists, respectively, as Ava Zollinger produced three blocks for the Pioneers.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams are back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 5. MIT will host Johnson & Wales University at 6:00 p.m. while Smith will travel to NEWMAC foe WPI for a 7:00 p.m. match.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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