Volleyball Wins Sixth-Straight, Downs Simmons 3-1

PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College volleyball team posted a record sixth-straight win in Thursday's 3-1 victory over Simmons College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

Set scores were 26-24, 24-26, 25-20, and 25-13.

RECORD SETTERS

Today's win marks the first time in program-history that the AMCATS have won six matches in-a-row. The previous record of five matches was last recorded in September of 2013 and included wins against Mass. Maritime, New Rochelle, Bay Path, Pine Manor, and Becker.

Additionally, sophomore Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) became the first player in program history to record over 20 kills and 20 digs in a single match. She finished her monumental night with 20 kills, 23 digs, and a .340 attack percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first two sets were battles of mere points, as the AMCATS took the first set 26-24 and Simmons won the second set by the same score. In the first match, Simmons claimed an early 5-1 lead, but the set was separated by less than four points for a majority of the time. Anna Maria held a 23-19 lead before the Sharks roared back with to tie the score at 24-24. Back to back kills by Rebecca Foti (Bedford, Mass.) sealed the win for the AMCATS.

Set two was nearly opposite as Anna Maria held a late lead at 22-20 before Simmons' Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) served four-straight points for a 24-23 lead. An attack error by the Sharks set the score at 24-24, but kills by Amber Peterson (Las Vegas, N.V.) and Morgan Weeg (Goodyear, Ariz.) evened the scores at 1-1.

The AMCATS opened some breathing room in sets three and four. The hosts trailed early in the third set but took over at 5-4 and didn't look back as they opened up a seven-point gap at 20-13 and held on for the 25-20 final.

Anna Maria made quick work of the final set as they held Simmons to 11 points for eight-straight serves by Demi Carrero (Mamaroneck, N.Y.). A Foti kill sealed the victory.

AMCAT LEADERS

In addition to King, the AMCATS saw Foti finish with 18 kills, while sophomore Carolina Garcia (Springfield, Mass.) recorded 15 digs. Freshman setter Tierney Clancy (Meriden, Conn.) dished out 34 assists and served a match-high five service aces.

As a team, the AMCATS compiled 44 kills and hit at .266.

SIMMONS LEADERS

The Sharks saw a double-double of 23 kills and 18 digs by Weeg. Peterson also contributed a double-double of 12 kills, 10 digs. Kenna McCarthy dished out 46 assists as Simmons recorded a team-total of 59 kills on the evening, hitting at .232.

THE SERIES

The win marks the second in-a-row for the AMCATS over Simmons. Prior to last season's victory, the Sharks had won four-straight. The series record now sits at 2-4 for Anna Maria.

WHAT'S NEXT

The AMCATS will continue GNAC play on Saturday in a double-feature as they take on the University of Saint Joseph and Emmanuel in Connecticut.