The side had slumped to 96 for six in its Plunket Shield match with Canterbury at Queens Park.
But Smith and Rippon put on 142 to help get the home side through to a respectable total of 287.
Both scored 78 and it is not the first time the two have combined in a big partnership for the wicket. They teamed up to post an Otago-record seventh-wicket stand of 190 earlier this season.
Canterbury was 20 for one in reply at stumps on day one.
Jacob Duffy secured the breakthrough when Chad Bowes shouldered arms on 15.
Earlier, the Volts made a tidy start. Anaru Kitchen played some crisp drives and rushed through to 28 with the aid of six boundaries.
However, he looked to clip a straight delivery from Matt Henry behind square but missed and was plumb.
The Volts were well-placed at 60 for one but a flurry of wickets followed.
Camden Hawkins had batted for nearly 80 minutes before nicking out on 17.
Neil Broom came and went without scoring and Nick Kelly (1) could not get established either.
When Dean Foxcroft (18) edged a Henry delivery to the keeper, the Volts had lost four wickets for five runs.
Mitch Renwick found the edge a lot during his brief stint. A French cut and two thick edges found the rope, rather than going to hand.
When he was bowled for 23, Otago was in desperate peril.
But Smith has shown some quality innings in recent times and he shone again.
He combined with another battler in Rippon and they guided Otago through to tea without further calamity.
Smith looked every bit the batsman as he swivelled into pull shots, cut, swept and drove the ball off the front and back foot.
Rippon favoured the leg side when looking for the rope and brought up his half century from 92 balls.
Henry wrapped up the innings when he bowled Matt Bacon with a ball too good to waste on a tailender.
He finished with four for 88, while Fraser Sheat took three for 50.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Northern Districts is 303 for four against Auckland. Opener Henry Cooper (111) posted his fourth first-class century, while Joe Carter is undefeated on 116.
In the top-of-the-table match at the Basin Reserve, Wellington has got itself into a commanding position.
Jimmy Neesham and Logan van Beek took three wickets apiece as Central Districts collapsed to be all out for a paltry 96.
Wellington is 175 for three in reply.
