Boston, MA --- The WPI Volleyball team battled back from a two-set deficit but ultimately fell to Emerson, 3-2 (26-24, 25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 15-7), on Saturday afternoon at the Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gym. With the win, Emerson improves to 12-9 overall and 4-3 in NEWMAC play, while WPI drops to 9-10 and 2-5 in the conference.
 
The opening frame featured 13 ties and five lead changes, setting the tone for a back-and-forth match. WPI led late after a block from Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) and Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) saw the Engineers tie it at 24-all, but Emerson responded with a pair of kills to capture the set, 26-24.
 
Emerson used early service pressure to build a 14-9 cushion before WPI clawed back within one at 20-19 after a kill from Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL). However, three service aces from the Lions' rotation swung momentum back, and a final kill closed out the second set, 25-21.
 
The Engineers regrouped in the third, jumping ahead 10-6 on consecutive kills from Lynch and Fiona Gillis (Manchester, NH). A balanced attack helped WPI maintain the edge, with Anastasia Kelnik (Fair Lawn, NJ) and Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) each converting on key swings at the net. WPI finished the set on a 4-1 run to take it 25-20 to get on the board.
 
WPI carried its momentum into the fourth. Hutchinson's service ace gave the Engineers a 23-17 lead, and Lynch followed with back-to-back kills to reach set point. Emerson staved off a few late rallies, but a final kill from Lynch sealed a 25-22 win and forced a decisive fifth set.
 
The deciding frame was tightly contested early at 6-6, but Emerson used a six-point surge to pull away. Two late service aces from Kori Meissner (Williamstown, MA) closed the match, as the Lions secured the fifth set 15-7 to take the overall victory.
 
Lynch led the Engineers with 11 kills, while Gillis added 10 and Spees contributed seven to go along with a match-high 23 digs. Hutchinson chipped in six kills and three total blocks, while Kelnik added seven kills and three blocks. Preslie Jerebker (Denver, CO) handed out 19 assists, recorded two aces, and tallied 16 digs, while Lauren Boycourt (San Diego, CA) contributed 13 assists and 10 digs. Maura Oslosky (Pittsburgh, PA) anchored the defense with 20 digs, and Taylor Simpson (Ashland, MA) added 10.
 
Emerson was led by Chloe Hokenson (McLean, VA), who posted a double-double with 17 kills and 23 assists. Shirley Yu (Hong Kong) and Lizi Horning (El Dorado Hills, CA) each added 11 kills. Meissner was strong at the line, finishing with four aces, including the final two points of the match, while Sophia Schiappa (Burr Ridge, IL) chipped in five. Defensively, Lauren Yoo (Redondo Beach, CA) led the Lions with 20 digs.
 
WPI returns home on Tuesday, October 21 for a 6pm NEWMAC matchup with Wellesley, while Emerson travels to Smith the same evening for a 7pm first serve.