PIONEERS UPSET IN NCAA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Northampton, MA: The Smith Pioneers were upset today in first round action of the NCAA Division III New England Regionals losing to Colby Sawyer 3-1. The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) champions entered the tournament as the third seed while Colby Sawyer, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) winner, was seeded sixth.

This is the second year in a row that these teams faced each other to open post-season play. Last year, the teams paired off in the opening round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship with Smith the 3-2 victors. The 2005 NCAA Tournament marks the third appearance by both schools in the national championship. Colby Sawyer lost in first round play in 1999 and 2003 while Smith bowed out in the first round in 1981 to the University of California at San Diego and to Juniata in 1988. With the win, Colby Sawyer improves to 30-8 and will face the winner of tonight’s Tufts/Emmanual match tomorrow at 4:30 pm. The Pioneers finish the season 23-7 overall.

Kate Sorensen (Kelso, WA) and Katie Shafer (Red Bluff, CA) led the Pioneers today in the loss. Sorensen tallied 33 digs with 29 kills while Shafer added 31 digs and 21 kills. Sophomores Sami Lyon (Los Angeles, CA) and Sara Hoffman (Houston, TX) paired up for 7 blocks while co-captain Lauren Perry (Metairie, LA) registered 56 assists.

Four seniors have completed their volleyball careers for Smith including Megumi Sasaki (Singapore), Jesse Martin (Mt. View, CA), Sorensen and Perry. Sorensen, a co-captain this season, was named the New England Women’s Volleyball Association (NEWVA) Player of the Year, NEWMAC Player of the Year, and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All New England earlier this week. She graduates as the Smith career record holder in kills with 1,606 and digs with 2, 393. She also holds the individual record of most kills in a season with 428 (2004). Co-captain Lauren Perry received NEWVA Honorable Mention, NEWMAC All Conference Second Team honors and was also named AVCA All New England. She will graduate as the career leader with 2,519 assists and the individual record holder for assists in a season with 1,140.