NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Bates College women's volleyball took to the road for the first time this season as the Bobcats visited Smith College for Saturday matches vs. Salem State University and the host-Pioneers as part of the Bonnie May Invitational.
The garnet-and-white split the pair, defeating the Vikings of Salem State in match one, 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-17), before closing the day with a 3-1 loss to Smith (19-25, 25-15, 19-25, 22-25). The Bobcats now own an overall record of 4-1 on the year.
Bates' offense dominated in its win vs. Salem State (2-6) with a team hitting percentage of .330 (39 kills, nine errors, 91 total attacks) and no less than six Bobcats registering a personal hitting percentage of .400 or higher.
Katie Kortekaas paced the garnet and white with a match-best eight kills on 14 attacks (1 error).
Ami Evans followed with an unblemished line consisting of seven kills on 11 attacks (.636 pct.).
Sofia Castiglioni (5 kills, 7 attacks, .714) and
 Anaïs Reneaum (5 kills, 8 attacks, .625) also provided error-free performances.
First-year setters
Skye Higashihara and
Lauren Croom shared distribution duties as each reached double-digit assist totals with 18 and 11, respectively.
Sami Kim contributed a team-high 12 digs while
Ellie Asada recorded another five service aces. The junior now owns 22 over her six match appearances.
In the nightcap, Smith improves to 10-1 overall after the four-set victory. Addison Klunder (So.-Los Angeles, Calif.) pounded out an impressive 20 kills for the victors. Taylor Gwynne (Gr.-Chapel Hill, N.C.) dished 40 assists. Sarah Dankovich (Sr.-El Paso, Texas) gathered 21 digs in the Pioneers win.
Evans concludes a productive week for the Bobcats as the junior, with 18 kills vs. Smith, ends a three-match stretch with 39 total kills. Higashihara shared 26 assists while Kim matched her earlier dig total of 12.
Bates now prepares to kick off NESCACÂ competition this Friday with a 7:00 p.m. home match vs. Amherst College.
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