Pioneers End Season Strong at SJRS

The SMC volleyball team travelled to the sunshine state to play in the SJRS Viking Invitational. A packed tournament schedule consisted of receiving votes Monroe College, host team Saint John’s River State, Region 17 opponent Andrew College, and Lake Sumter State College. The Pioneers went 3-1 on the last weekend of the regular season. Their playing style being exactly where the Pioneers need to be headed into postseason play.

Monroe College

With this being the third meeting between the Pioneers and the Mustangs, SMC looked to change the narrative that the two previous meetings had detailed. Starting off strong with a 11-7 lead, the Pioneers adjustment on defense was working in favor of SMC. A run for the Mustangs tied the score back at 13-13. It was then a battle back and forth at the net until the Mustangs took a 22-20 lead. With a couple of unforced errors Monroe took the first set 25-21. Second set was a little more back and forth. SMC had a mid-set run with the help from both outside hitters Aurora Aho and Zuzanna Michalska. Being up 20-19, Monroe extended the lead to 22-20, SMC then came back to tie it up at 22-22, but Monroe end on a 3-0 run to seal the 2-0 set advantage 25-22. Monroe not missing a beat in the third start off on a 6-2 run, unsettling the Pioneer serve receive. It ultimately came down to Monroe making less errors than SMC.

Saint Johns River State

The host team was fresh and ready to battle as it was their first match of the day. SMC being a little tired from pushing Monroe started off a little slow to begin with. Trading points up until 20-20, SJRS took the lead 23-21. SMC pushed offensively to bring the score to 24-23. After a SMC hitting error, it was 24-24 and Sophomore Joanna Barr called the set made back-to-back block to seal the first set victory. The next two sets were the same story. Both teams battling points. SJRS claimed the second, and SMC claimed the third. During the fourth SJRS serving strategy proved to be effective as it left SMC’s passer is disarray. They claimed a quick 25-17 set victory in the fourth pushing this to five. In the fifth set it was all SMC as they jetted out to a 7-2 lead. SJRS called a timeout at 12-7 but it was too late. The momentum was all SMC, and the Pioneers sealed the victory with a 15-10 score.

Andrew College

Starting off the morning a little rough, SMC took awhile to wake up in its 9am match against Andrew College. Once the dust was shaken off there was no stopping the Pioneers. Long serving runs from Tayla Reini, Zuzanna Michalska, and Delaney Castro finished this match in a quick three sets.

Lake Sumter State

After picking up the Pioneer play, SMC came out to a fast start in each set of this match. Strong blocking efforts from Tori Barr, Kendall Meinders, and Kaitlyn Starks lead the Pioneers defensively. Incredible offensive performances from Tori Barr, Zuzanna Michalska, Aurora Aho and Kendall Meinders paced our attacking with range and efficiency. The Pioneers swept the Lake Sumter Hawks with scores of 25-21,25-22, 25-22. 

“I am extremely proud of this group. To come to Florida and play a tough schedule and come out 3-1 is exactly where we needed to be moving on the post season. This group deserves a good off day but we’ll be back and making some adjustments from the weekend in preparation for Regionals.”

SMC will be hosting the Region 10 tournament at Spartanburg, SC. Their opponent will be set at a later date.