SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Emerson College bested Mount Holyoke College, 3-0 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday. With the win, the Lions improve to an overall record of 5-6 and 1-3 in the NEWMAC, while the Lyons fall to 4-5 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
For Emerson, first year outside hitter Grace Tepper (Kensington, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) and sophomore outside hitter Kayleen Bertrand (New Boston, N.H./Goffstown) were the only players on the floor to notch double-digit kills with 11 each. Junior setter Moira Brennan led the game in assists with 30, while classmate outside hitter Fara Cohen (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) recorded a game-best 11 digs.
For the Lyons, sophomore Sasha Simine (Kichener, Ont./Cameron Heights Collegiate Inst.) led the squad with seven kills to go along with three blocks and two digs. Junior middle hitter Jamesa Allen (Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona) was right behind with six blocks, adding three blocks and two digs as well. Setters Brayden Walden (McKinney, Texas/McKinney North) and Melissa Stewart (San Diego, Calif./Chisago Lakes Baptist School (MN)) each posted 10 assists.
The teams played tightly early on in the first set before five consecutive errors from the visitors gave the Lyons an 11-5 advantage. Emerson countered with six straight points to tie the game at 11-all. Mount Holyoke attempted to pull away after a kill by Simine put them up by four, but the Lions went on a run to regain the lead after a kill by Tepper (17-16). Emerson used a five-point streak at the end of the set to open up the match with a 1-0 lead.
In the second set, Emerson used its momentum to gain a five point lead before Mount Holyoke cut the lead to one after kills from junior outside hitter Isabell Linde (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) and Allen (9-8). The Lyons stayed in striking distance down 17-14, but Emerson ended the stanza on an 8-1 run to take the set 25-15.
Heading into what would be the final set, Mount Holyoke battled to take an 8-9 lead after a kill by junior right side hitter Sarah Caggiano (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown). The visitors came back to take a 12-9 lead, but two back-to-back kills from Caggiano brought it back to within one (12-11). The Lions scored 10 of the next 13 points to take a 22-14 advantage. The Lyons recorded one final kill before Bertrand laid down two consecutive hits to help Emerson to the set and match victory.
Emerson will be back in NEWMAC action at 7:00pm on Tuesday, heading home to play Clark. Mount Holyoke will also be in conference action, beginning a three-game road-trip beginning with WPI on Tuesday at 7:00pm.
