For the first time, Smith College Volleyball has achieved a ranking by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The Bears came in at 19 out of 433 teams in the AVCA, according to the Taraflex Division III Women’s Volleyball Poll, as of Oct. 25. This is their third consecutive week in the top 25, after being ranked #21 and #24 in the previous weeks. With a 2025 record of 19-12, Smith Volleyball has made a loud comeback in their 2026 season.
This is the Bears’ strongest recorded start in history. The team has an overall record of 21-4, and a home record of 10-2. In the New England Men’s and Women’s Conference (NEWMAC) within Division III, Smith Volleyball has maintained a 7-1 record. The Bears are first in conference, followed by #25 Babson College and Emerson College.
On Sept. 26, Smith beat nationally ranked Babson in a four-set match. The Bears took control in the game by having 10 service aces, 61 digs, and eight blocks. Mia Etheridge ’27 and Alison Chapin ’29 led with double-digit kills, Skye Higashiara ’28 stabilized the offense with 23 assists, and Ruth Tullis ’27 was everywhere defensively with 19 digs. This marked Babson’s first loss in conference play of 2026.
The Bears win at Springfield College marks another statement achievement. Smith hasn’t had a win during the regular season in Blake Arena since 1989. The four-set match was highlighted by the Bears’ ability to out-dig Springfield, 71 to 67. Chapin led all of the offense with 20 kills, followed by Anna Feuer ’27 with 12. Higashiara had 27 assists, while Tullis and Chapin matched at 18 digs apiece.
In a post-game interview for the Smith Bears social media, Chapin attributed the team’s success to their confidence in the team culture. “I think we’re good about being very intentional before every game. We set one word that we want to focus on before every game, and we stick to it,” she said. “We hold each other accountable and make sure that we’re staying intentional and focused every game.”
The Smith College Volleyball Team is ranked 17th in Division III for blocks per set and eighth in hitting percentage by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Anna Feuer led the pack in both of these categories, individually being ranked 10th in blocks per set and second in hitting percentage. Feuer has also been named NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Week twice. In the week of Sept. 1, she recorded 16 blocks in 11 sets in a 4-0 week, and in the week of Oct. 12, she held opponents to under a 0.100 hitting percentage and had 8 blocks, anchoring a 2-0 week. Feuer was named the NEWMAC Co-Offensive Athlete of the Week of Oct. 6 as she had 54 kills, hit 0.500, and only had five errors inside of a 3-0 week.
Tullis and Addison Klunder ’27 were named to the NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Week lists. Tullis claimed it in the week of Sept. 22, after recording 34 digs across two NEWMAC wins, including the upset of nationally-ranked Babson. She helped the Bears hold Babson to a 0.100 hitting percentage throughout the four-set match. In the week of Oct. 6, along with Feuer, Klunder earned the accolade after posting 25 digs over 10 sets in a 3-0 week for the Bears.
The four losses for the Bears this year have been against Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Emerson College, #13 Wesleyan University, and Trinity College. The first loss to William Smith’s Herons’ came at the end of non-conference play on Sept. 19. The second loss came at Emerson on Oct. 20, and was Smith’s first conference loss. Emerson came into the match outhitting the Bears, 0.182 to 0.116. Smith led the match with 11 blocks, but Emerson outscored the Bears 74 to 60. The first home loss of the season came on Oct. 23 against #13 Wesleyan. The five-set thriller was highlighted by the Bears’ ability to outscore Wesleyan, 83 to 72. Smith had 68 kills and eight blocks, but Wesleyan was able to find the win with 10 service aces and 60 digs. Trinity College Bantams was the fourth loss of the year and another five-set battle on home court.
A well-rounded team has contributed to the historic 2026 season. Klunder spoke to the team’s ability to bounce back and rely on team culture, remarking in an interview for the Smith Bears social media, “We have really good communication and foundation of [trust], like a foundation of family, and I think we can come out in big moments.”
The Bears’ will return to Ainsworth Gymnasium on Oct. 31 for Senior Day against Keene State at 1 p.m. and Westfield State University at 5 p.m.
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