NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Connecticut College volleyball team split a pair of matches against NEWMAC opponents on Saturday. The Camels first defeated Clark University, 3-2, before falling to host Smith College by a 3-1 score later in the day.
 
Connecticut College 3, Clark 2 (22-25, 20-25, 28-26, 25-22, 15-13)
 
After dropping the first two sets, Connecticut College stormed back to defeat the Cougars in a marathon five frames. Up 24-21 in the third set, the Camels held off a feisty comeback effort to take it 28-26 on a kill by junior Christina Leduc (Mendon, Mass.) to gain momentum. Sophomore Emma Wheeler (Meredith, N.H.) then came through in clutch situations to allow the Camels to force a deciding fifth set by recording a kill and blocking an attack by Clarks' Victoria Pastor on the final two rallies.
 
Clark (9-4) took control of the final frame and led by scores of 5-0 and 11-5, but the Camels stormed back again. A 6-0 run which was capped by a Julia Dailey (Charlottesville, Va.) service ace tied the match at 11s, and Connecticut College scored the last three points with freshman Lauren Carey (New York, N.Y.) setting up senior Avery Light (Sudbury, Mass.) and Wheeler for kills. Wheeler's final smash gave the Camels the victory.
 
Carey registered her first collegiate double-double in the match by providing 29 assists and 14 digs. Dailey tallied 24 digs and five service aces, while Katherine Randall (Chicago, Ill.) added six aces and junior Katie Gunderman had nine kills.
 
Smith 3, Connecticut College 1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14)
 
Connecticut College's wave of momentum carried over into its second match of the day against the host Pioneers. Down 24-22 with their backs against the wall, Wheeler provided the late set heroics again by breaking a 24-all tie with an ace followed by a kill to put the visitors on top.
 
However. Smith (10-5) battled back by capturing the next three sets. Following two close frames, the Pioneers built up a double-digit lead of 21-11 in the fourth set en route to the victory.
 
Wheeler contributed 11 kills, and Carey filled the box score with 19 assists, five aces, and seven digs. Dailey finished with 15 digs and three assists.
 
Connecticut College (1-4) is slated to play its first home games of the season next weekend. The Camels will first host Bates on Friday evening at 7 p.m.