Jacobson Reaches 500 Kills!

Paul Smiths, NY ~ 500 kills.  That is what separates a "good" player from an elite one in collegiate volleyball.  Much like 1,000 career points in college basketball or 100 career points in college hockey, 500 kills is the mark that the best of the best strive to achieve.

On Sunday, October 5th, 2025, senior middle hitter Finnley Jacobson (Vergennes, VT) hit the 500-kill milestone without even knowing it.

Early on in the fourth set of a 2-1 SMCC set lead, the Vermont native used her 6' physique to do the same thing she had done 499 times prior for Paul Smith's College - smash the ball through the opposing team's defense with a tenacity that can only come from a product of the "brave little state."

"I knew I was somewhere close in the range, but I only knew I hit 500 a few days after our game at Southern," said Jacobson.

Paul Smith's College Athletics Operation Manger, Assistant Sports Information Director, and Sports Photographer Mercedes Rideout is the one who let Jacobson know she had hit the milestone.  Once Jacobson knew, she gave the ever-present Rideout a very big thank you.

When asked about not only the 500 kills but the success of the volleyball team with limited numbers this year, Jacobson was complimentary of her team.  "More than half our team is playing positions that they've never played in the past, which is just a testament to how much work everyone has put in this season.  I am so grateful to be playing with this team, and all of the success that I've experienced is only due to each of my teammates," Jacobson remarked.

The team is currently 9-8 overall but 8-1 in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC), which showcases their tough strength of schedule against NCAA Division III schools while also proving their continued success in the conference.

"I am excited for playoffs, and I think that our low numbers only show that we have had the grit to get this far and we can outwork our competition," added Jacobson.

Going back a decade, only two other players have reached even 400 kills: Alli Cherry with 485 and current teammate Maddi Rhodes (Charlotte, NC) with 465.  Rhodes is expected to hit the 500-kill milestone sometime later this month.

"Stay tuned for Maddi's 500 kills, she's a beast!  Thank you to coach Mike and my amazing teammates - they pick me up every single day and push me to play my best," finished Jacobson.

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.