THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 18 MIT 3, Smith College 0 (29-27, 25-18, 25-21)
 
- Records: No. 18 MIT (26-4, 9-2 NEWMAC), Smith (16-12, 5-6 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: No. 18 MIT wrapped up the NEWMAC women's volleyball regular season by capturing a hard-fought 29-27, 25-18, 25-21 victory over Smith College on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: The opening frame was closely played as there were 15 ties and seven lead changes. A Smith hitting error, a block by sophomore Ali Gibbs (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and junior Ella Gragg (Morganton, N.C.), and a kill by Gragg gave MIT a 24-21 lead. The Pioneers capitalized on kills by Miranda Oakes and Sarah Dankovich along with a hitting error by the Engineers to tie the set. After trading points, kills by Dankovich and Abby Hunt gave Smith a 26-25 edge. Following a service error, the Pioneers won the next point courtesy of a block by Oakes and Hunt. MIT responded with kills form senior Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.) and sophomore Claire Underwood (Yorba Linda, Calif.) to reclaim the lead and then a hitting error clinched the 29-27 win.
 
- Set 2: The Engineers won the first four points and eventually built an 18-9 advantage. Smith chipped away at the deficit as a kill by Dankovich brought it within 22-17. MIT claimed three of the next four points to capture the victory.
 
- Set 3: The third set was another back-and-forth battle as there were 11 ties and six lead changes. Trailing 14-12, a serving error by the visitors kicked off a 7-0 run by the Engineers. Smith replied with six straight points as a kill by Hunt put it in front, 20-19. A serving error led to a 5-0 burst with a hitting error resulting in match point for MIT. A kill by Hunt extended the frame, however, a kill from Underwood secured the win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Gragg tallied 11 kills, two aces, and two blocks while Rozario finished with nine kills and three blocks. Underwood posted eight kills as junior Lauren Keller (Albuquerque, N.M.) recorded seven kills and a .375 hitting performance. Senior Emily Cheng (Sunnyvale, Calif.) notched 30 assists and two blocks while sophomore Daphne Gavros (Bel Tiburon, Calif.) led all players with nine digs. Junior Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) bolstered the back row with seven digs.
 
- Hunt amassed a match-high 17 kills while hitting .438 and contributing three blocks. Dankovich totaled 13 kills and eight digs while Ruby Woodward dished out 37 assists. Gabby Beckman and Ruth Tullis both registered eight digs as Oakes finished with four blocks.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams will continue their seasons in the NEWMAC Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
 
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