BOSTON, Mass. – In a back-and-forth affair, the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's volleyball team dropped its season opener, falling at Simmons, 3-2.

RECORDS:

• Wentworth (0-1)
• Simmons (1-0)

WENTWORTH STAT LEADERS:

• Kills – Helen Barthe, 10; Ema Thompson, 9; Riley Waggoner, 5; Vivian Goulet, 5
• Assists – Ashley Cao, 16; Lexi Zabloudil, 8
• Aces – Ashley Cao, 9; Helen Barthe, 4
• Digs – Lexi Zabloudil, 16; Helen Barthe, 14; Shelby Seage, 13
• Blocks – Vivian Goulet, 3; Riley Schoonmaker, 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore Ashley Cao (Morrisville, N.C.) picked up the first point of the night, when she served an ace, however, Simmons went on a 4-1 spurt and took a 4-2 lead on a junior Jayla Purnell (Oregon City, Ore.). A kill from sophomore Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.) and a setting error tied the set at 4-all and the Leopards tied the set at 5-all after a Sharks attack error. The hosts used a 5-1 run to take 10-6 lead before the Black & Gold used a 6-2 run of their own to tie the set at 12-all on a Barthe kill. Simmons scored five of the next six points, taking the lead for good at 17-13. Wentworth pulled within a pair at 23-21, however, would get no closer.
• After falling behind to open the second set, 8-6, Wentworth went on an 8-1 run, taking a 14-9 lead after a Simmons service error. Despite the Sharks scoring the next two points, the Leopards upped its lead to 19-13, thanks to a kill from sophomore Ema Thompson (Lewiston, Idaho). Four straight Simmons points brought the Sharks to within a pair before freshman Shannon Raftery (Cumberland, R.I.) put down a kill to make it 20-17. The Sharks responded with three of the next four points to come within one and force Wentworth to take a time out. Out of the time out, senior Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.) recorded a kill, making it 22-20. Three straight points – with two coming on service aces – gave the hosts a 23-22 lead but Waggoner ended the streak with a kill to tie the set at 23-all. A setting error gave the Black & Gold match point where Thompson recorded a kill to even the match at 1-all.
• Simmons pulled together a rally to take a 2-1 lead with a 27-25 win in the third set. The set started out all Wentworth, as the Leopards raced out to a 10-2 lead. Cao served an ace to make it 12-3 before the Sharks used a 6-1 run to pull within four at 13-9. A Barthe kill started a 4-1 spurt, making it 17-10 when sophomore Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio) served an ace. An ace from Barthe made it 19-13, however, the hosts went on an 11-3 run and had match point at 24-22. A kill from Barthe and an error knotted the score at 24-all and the Leopards staved off set point at 25-24, however, the Sharks got back-to-back kills to take the win.
• The Leopards fell behind, 4-1, to open the fourth set before a service error, an ace from Barthe, and an attack error evened the score at 4-all. Wentworth fought through a pair of ties, including when a kill from freshman Riley Schoonmaker (Montgomery, N.Y.) evened the score at 6-all and started a 5-0 run which included three aces and a kill from Cao. Schoonmaker put a kill down to push the score to 15-7, giving the Leopards their largest lead of the set. The Leopards matched their largest lead after an attack error made it 20-12 before Simmons rolled five of the next seven points to trim the lead to 22-17. Senior Vivian Goulet (North Kingstown, R.I.) recorded a kill to end the Sharks' spurt and made it 23-17. A kill off a long rally from Thompson gave Wentworth set point at 24-18. Simmons scored the next two points to make it 24-20 but an attack error gave Wentworth the 25-20 win, forcing the deciding set.
• In the deciding set, Wentworth jumped out to a 7-2 lead, capped off by Barthe's second ace of the early going. The Leopards led, 12-7, after a Schoonmaker kill, however, Simmons went on a 7-2 run to tie the set at 14-all. The teams were tied at 16 and 17-all before the hosts took an 18-17 lead, giving them their second straight match point. Junior Claire Conners (Albany, Calif.) recorded her second straight kill, giving the Sharks a 19-17 win in the set and the match by a 3-2 decision.

THE SERIES:

• Tonight was 23rd known all-time meeting between the two teams. Simmons leads, 15-8, and has won the last three matches.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Lasell on Tuesday night.

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Wentworth Leopards "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.