BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Sydney Iannantuono (East Lyme, Conn.) recorded 11 kills to help pace the Simmons University women's volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in the season opener for both teams.

RECORDS:

• Simmons (1-0)
• Wentworth (0-1)

WENTWORTH STAT LEADERS:

• Kills – Riley Waggoner, 8; Viviann Goulet, 7; Lexi Zabloudil, 6; Krisila Hammett, 6
• Assists – Lexi Zabloudil, 17; Ashley Cao, 11
• Aces – Megan Davies, 4
• Digs – Viviann Goulet, 18; Megan Davies, 17
• Blocks – Lexi Zabloudil, 1; Helen Barthe, 1; Lauren Edmiston, 1; Riley Waggoner, 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After the two teams traded points to open the first set, Simmons took a 13-8 lead. Wentworth closed the gap to 13-10 on a sophomore Megan Davies (Chandler, Ariz.) kill. The Sharks used an 11-3 run to close out the set, which included six straight points to extend the lead to 25-13.
• Wentworth battled back to even the match at a set apiece, thanks to a 25-21 win. The set, which featured 12 ties and 7 lead changes, saw the Leopards trail, 8-6, before coming back to take a 13-11 lead after a service error. Two straight Simmons points evened the set at 13-all and the teams traded points with freshman Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio) putting down a kill to start a 3-0 spurt and give the Black & Gold the lead for good at 22-19. While the Sharks closed the gap to 22-20, Wentworth scored three of the next four points, including a kill from junior Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.) which ended the set.
• Simmons raced out to an 11-7 lead in the third set but not before Wentworth narrowed the lead to 12-10 on a freshman Helen Barthe (Blythewood, S.C.) kill. Using an 8-2 run, Simmons extended its lead to 20-12 and took a 2-1 lead with a 25-14 win. The Sharks hit .305 as a team in the third set.
• A pair of attack errors sandwiched around a service ace gave Simmons a 7-2 lead to open the fourth set. Wentworth clawed its way back, outscoring the Sharks 13-7 to take a 15-14 lead on a kill from Waggoner. After the Sharks tied the score at 15-all, the Leopards opened up an 18-15 lead on a service ace from freshman Ashley Cao (Morrisville, N.C.) and the Black & Gold held a 23-19 lead after a Waggoner kill and had set point, 24-20, on a Simmons service error. The Sharks scored five straight points to serve for the match at 25-24, however, it was staved off after a kill from junior Viviann Goulet (North Kingstown, R.I.). Simmons took a 26-25 lead before a service error tied the set for the sixth time. A Wentworth bad set and a Simmons block closed the set and the match out.

THE SERIES:

• Tonight was the 21st known meeting between the two programs. Wentworth leads 14-7.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth travels to Bethlehem, Pa., this weekend for the Moravian Greyhound Premiere Invitational. The Leopards will play Baruch and Alvernia on Friday night and square off against the host Greyhounds Saturday morning.

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