BOSTON, Mass. - Powered by a 10 kill effort from two players, the Emerson College volleyball team posted a 3-0 victory over Mount Holyoke College in NEWMAC action on Saturday. With the win, Emerson moves to 7-6 and 1-1 in conference play, while the Lyons slip to 2-9 and 0-2 in the NEWMAC.
The homestanding Lions saw both Jules Augustine and Brittany Schoellkopf record a match-best 10 kills in the match, while Sam Harton added a match-high 11 digs. Elaine Nichols added 33 assists in the effort for Emerson.
For Mount Holyoke, junior Emma Sweeting led the Lyons with eight kills. She also added four digs and two block solos. Senior Rebecca Bland chipped in with six kills, three digs and a block solo, while classmate Kaleen Iwema had five kills and a team-best eight digs.
Emerson took the early lead in the match, grabbing the first set by a 25-13 score. The Lions rode the momentum into the second set, which saw them take an 11-3 lead following four straight errors from MHC.
A kill from Susie Gardiner helped pull Mount Holyoke to with 1-6, but continued errors plagued the visitors as Emerson pulled out to a 22-12 margin following a kill from Amanda Linzmeyer. Sweeting added a late kill, but a service ace from Linzmeyer and a kill by Annie Hall gave the home Lions a 25-13 win in the second set.
The final frame saw a tight battle to start as both teams traded points. MHC took the lead following an attacking error by Emerson and continued to build on it with back-to-back service aces from Corina Willner and a kill from Sweeting.
Holding a 12-11 lead, Mount Holyoke saw its advantage dimish as Emerson's Giuli Frendak laid down and ace to tie it and a bad set by MHC gave the Lions the lead for good. Sweeting recorded two kills late in the stanza, but Emerson was too strong at the finish, taking a 25-17 set win and the match victory.
Emerson, which also played Eastern Nazarene (3-0 win) on Saturday, is back in action on Tuesday with a 7pm match at WPI. The Lyons return home on Tuesday, hosting MIT at 7pm.
For the latest on Mount Holyoke Athletics, follow the Lyons on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Photo courtesy of RJB Sports Photography.
