NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – Opening the 2021 season with a 3-0 sweep of Smith College, the Amherst College volleyball team pushed past the Pioneers 25-16, 25-18, 25-9 Thursday evening at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

With the win, Amherst opens the year at 1-0, while Smith drops to 4-2 on the season. The Mammoths return to action this Saturday, Sept. 11 when they travel to Western New England for a tri-match with the Golden Bears and Emerson. First serve is slated for 11:00AM and 1:00PM, respectively.

SET NOTES

• Errors were the difference makers in the first set as the Pioneers' 10-9 edge in kills was not enough to outweigh their seven errors to the Mammoths' one. Senior Jamie Dailey closed out the first frame to give Amherst the 25-16 win, as Dailey earned the final kill after back-to-back Smith attack miscues.  
• Jumping out to a 14-6 lead in the second set, the Mammoths' then staved off a Pioneer's push that got the home team within three (15-12) before retaking momentum down the stretch and capturing a 25-18 victory.
• The third and final set saw Amherst cruise to the 3-0 sweep, with the Mammoths taking an early 14-1 lead and closing out the 25-9 win with three kills and a bad set.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Dailey posted game-highs in both kills (13) and digs (14), while Caroline Tilton '23 and Carly Cooper '24 registered contest-best marks in blocks (5) and assists (15), respectively.
• The Mammoths held the advantage in every major statistical category in the matchup, owning a 38-22 edge in kills, 29-17 margin in assists, and a 53-42 advantage in digs.
• Sophie Launsbach's '22 impressive .500 attack percentage was a match-high, with the Los Angeles, Calif. native logging nine kills and 9.5 points on the night.
• Tilton and Chloe Chanren '24 had the next best attack percentages, with the duo each eclipsing  .400 and combining for 15.5 points.

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