CHICAGO, Ill.—The William Smith volleyball team fell twice this afternoon to open the 2024 Gargoyle Classic. The Herons dropped a 3-1 decision to the University of Chicago in the opening match before falling to No. 17 Millikin 3-0 in the second match. The Herons fall to 3-2 on the season and will close out the weekend against Mount St. Joseph tomorrow.

Junior Malya Sayre led the Herons through two games, recording 22 kills, 28 digs, six service aces and one block. Against the Maroons, Sayre put down 15 kills (.132) and had 16 digs for her second double-double of the season. Junior Hope Von Dohlen combined for 21 kills (.208) through two matches. She added four digs and three blocks on the day.

First-year setter Delainy Williams compiled 71 assists through seven sets. She added 19 digs, three kills (.250), two blocks and one service ace to open the classic.
  
MATCH MOMENTS:
 
Match 1 (UChicago):

• The Maroons jumped out to an early lead in the opening set and maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the set. The Herons fought back putting down 11 kills (.116) as a team but fell just short of a comeback as UChicago took the first set 25-20.
• The second set was a back-and-forth battle between William Smith and Chicago. The set saw 11 tie scores and three lead changes that forced extra points. The Herons put down 15 kills (.157) compared to the Maroons' 13 (.075) but couldn't close out the set as Chicago slipped away with a 27-25 win in set two.
• William Smith responded well in the third set, hitting an impressive .343 as a team with 13 kills. The Herons' clean play propelled them to a 25-22 win in set three, forcing a fourth set against the nationally ranked side.
• The battle continued in the fourth set as the sides traded the lead three times and found the score tied eight times. William Smith hit a match-low .063 hitting percentage on nine kills and was matched by an efficient Chicago side that hit .281 on the set. The Maroons closed out the match with a 25-17 win to take the match 3-1.

Match stats:

• Sayre led the Herons with 15 kills (.132) in the loss. Von Dohlen added 14 kills (.250), while Montagne chipped in 10 (.122) through four sets.
• Williams recorded a career-high 41 assists for William Smith. She added eight digs, two blocks, two kills (.200) and one service ace.
• Four Herons recorded double-digit digs against the Maroons. Montagne led the team with a season-high 17, while Sayre chipped in 16. Junior defensive specialist Cydney Fernandez tallied 15, while first-year libero Kali Vanderhoof added 14 digs.
• William Smith combined for six blocks as a team compared to UChicago's seven. First-year Arielle Newsome led the Herons with four, while junior Jaylynn McCarthy and Montagne added two each.

Match 2 (Millikin):

• The Herons opened up the second match of the day with nine kills in the first set compared to the Big Blue's eight. Millikin played a clean open set with only two errors compared to William Smith's 15. The clean play propelled the Big Blue to a 25-18 win in the opening set.
• William Smith continued to fight in the second, putting down 12 kills and keeping Millikin to a match-low seven. The errors continued to plague the Herons as their 12 handed the Big Blue a 25-20 win in set two.
• The third set was a back-and forth battle with the highest production rate for both sides. William Smith fired off a match-high 15 kills (.167) and were powered by a four big kills by Newsome out of the middle. The Herons were matched by a strong Millikin side with 16 kills (.282). The Big Blue closed out the set with a kill and a block to end the match with a 25-22 win.

Match stats:

• McCarthy led the Herons in the second match of the day with eight kills (.375) out of the middle. Montagne added eight kills through four sets, while Sayre and Von Dohlen chipped in seven each.
• Williams recorded 30 assists and 11 digs for her second double-double of the season. She added one kill in the loss.
• Sayre led the defensive efforts for William Smith with 12 digs, while Williams added 11. Vanderhoof tallied eight digs while Fernandez chipped in seven.

COACHES CORNER:
 
"There are a lot of really positive things to take from today!" said Head Coach Derryk Williams. "I am really happy with our consistency of response and our ability to compete. Those are two really experienced, strong teams, so it was great for us to see how we matched up and that we can hang with some of the best! Back at it tomorrow with another great program and I'm excited to see us compete."
 
UP NEXT:
 
William Smith will be back in action tomorrow against Mount St. Joseph. First serve between the Herons and the Lions is set for noon Eastern time at UChicago's Ratner Athletic Center.