The Pioneer volleyball teamed dropped their two season-opening matches at the Boxer Kickoff, falling 30-14, 22-30, 34-32, 30-27 to Wisconsin Stevens-Point and 30-19, 30-27, 30-27 to Rhodes. Nicki Smith had 22 kills on the day.

In the first match, the Pioneers showed some early-season rust, dropping the first game 30-14 to the Wisconsin Stevens-Point Pointers. The team shook off the loss and played a strong second game. The Pioneers broke an 11-11 deadlock with a block by two of the new Pioneers, Cayley Rasmussen (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) and Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.), giving the Pioneers a 12-11 lead. They never trailed again in the game, earning a 30-22 victory. The third match was a battle from the outset. The Pioneers trailed 19-16 when they scored seven straight points to take a 23-19 lead. Stevens Point whittled away at the lead, but the Pioneers still managed to be serving for game point, 30-29, when a kill by the Pointers' Jamie Miller tied the match. A Kelsey Clark (junior, Estacada, Ore.) service ace put the Pioneers up 31-30, but Stvens Point tied the score again. A Sara Kettler (junior, Dana Point, Calif.) kill gave the Pioneers another advantage, 32-31, but a pair of Pioneer attack errors and a kill by Stevens-Point's Shelly Maus gave the Pointers the three points they need to earn 34-32 victory.

The Pioneers held a 20-17 lead when it was Stevens-Point's turn to rally, scoring six straight to change the momentum and take a 23-20 lead. They held on for the 30-27 game victory and the 3-1 match win.

In the 1pm match, the Pioneers faced #13 Rhodes Lynx, falling 30-19, 30-27, 30-27. Rebounding from a game one 30-19 loss, the Pioneers held the advantage early in game two. The Rhodes squad tied the game 20-20. The Pioneers took a 23-20 lead on a kill by Katherine Fiedler. Rhodes chipped away at the lead, tying the game 27-27. Three straight Lynx points closed out a 30-27 victory for the visiting team from Tennessee.

In game three, the two teams were once again knotted late, this time at the 25-25 mark. A Pioneer attack error followed by a Rhodes service ace put the advantage in Rhodes favor. The Lynx held on for a 30-27 victory.

Nicki Smith led the Pioneers offense with 22 kills, 12 in the first match and 10 in the second. Sara Kettler led the Pioneers in efficiency, with a .316 attack percentage in each match. She had 16 kills total on the day. Newcomer Katherine Fiedler posted four solo blocks and six block-assists.

On Sunday, the Pioneers once again have the 10 am match, this time facing Baruch, then finish off the tournament with a 6pm match against Cal State East Bay.