Northampton, MA - The Vassar College Women's Volleyball team opened the Bonnie May Invitational on Friday evening as the Brewers suffered its first loss in 2025 in a 29-27, 21-25, 18-25, 20-25 battle against host Smith. Vassar's record moves to 2-1 overall while the Pioneers improve to 4-2 on the season.

First Set

• The Pioneers took an early 6-4 lead to begin the match on a winner from Addison Klunder.
• A block from Claudia Poehlmann and Anna Feuer and back-to-back winners from Poehlmann expanded the lead to 13-7.
• Following a kill from Mia Etheridge that put Smith on top 16-10, Vassar rattled off six straight points behind a kill and a block from sophomore Eleanor Gegen along with a winner from junior Holland Kaplan and a solo block from sophomore Erin Lovett to even the set at 16.
• Two kills from Kaplan and a winner from senior Rebecca Gutierrez put the Brewers ahead 20-18.
• A kill and a solo block from junior Maura McAusland put the Brewers at set point at 24-22 but the Pioneers drew even at 24 on a kill from Etheridge.
• Smith went ahead 27-26 on an ace from Etheridge until VC used a McAusland kill, a Smith error and a Kaplan winner to take the opening set 29-27.

Second Set

• Smith went ahead 6-3 on an Etheridge kill and grew the lead to 10-4 on an ace from Etheridge.
• VC cut the advantage down to 14-11 behind a kill each from Lovett and McAusland along with an ace from junior Francesca Medrano.
• Two kills apiece from Gegen and Kaplan pushed Vassar ahead 17-16.
• Following a winner from McAusland to even the set back at 20, two kills from Klunder and an ace from Skye Higashihara pushed the Pioneers ahead 23-20.
• Klunder's service ace clinched set point for Smith to even the match at one set apiece.

Third Set

• Once again, Smith went ahead to begin the set 8-4 after an ace from Maddie Hliboki and a kill from Uma Schulz.
• Two kills and a block from Kaplan along with an ace from Gegen and a Medrano winner put the Brewers ahead 10-9.
• Back-to-back winners from Klunder pushed the Pioneers in front 14-12.
• A kill each from Kaplan and McAusland and a block apiece from Lovett and Kaplan regained the Vassar lead at 18-16.
• Smith scored the final nine points of the set, led by two Poehlmann aces and two blocks from Feuer, to take a 2-1 lead.

Fourth Set

• VC scored a quick 5-0 lead on two aces from Medrano and a kill each from Gegen and McAusland.
• Gegen and McAusland kept the Brewers on top 9-5 before Smith rattled off four straight points with a block from Higashihara and Feuer evening the set at nine all.
• Klunder's ace put the Pioneers ahead 14-11 and the lead increased to 18-13 on a Schulz kill.
• Back-to-back kills from McAusland put the Brewers within 23-19 until Schulz's winner clinched the four-set victory.

For The Brewers

• McAusland led the way with 20 kills (.421) and lifted a team-best 12 digs while Kaplan recorded 13 kills, two blocks and five digs.
• Gegen registered seven winners and Lovett finished with four kills and two blocks.
• Gutierrez added three kills and a block along with Medrano finishing with 28 assists, three aces and nine digs.
• Senior Ellie Kogan lifted a team-high 12 digs for the Brewers.

For The Pioneers

• Etheridge tallied 15 kills, 10 digs and two aces along with Klunder recording 13 kills, four aces and nine digs.
• Schulz registered nine winners and five digs while Higashihara finished with 26 assists, two kills and six digs.
• Feuer chipped in four blocks and five digs and Miranda Oakes added three blocks and five digs.

Up Next

• Vassar returns to the Bonnie May Invitational tomorrow morning with matchups against Dean at 10:00 a.m. and Saint Joseph at 12:00 p.m.
• Smith will take on Saint Joseph and Bridgewater State tomorrow.