Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WORCESTER -- WPI battled back to capture the third set, but Emerson responded in the fourth to hand the Engineers a 3-1 NEWMAC setback on Saturday afternoon inside Harrington Auditorium. The Lions prevailed 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 25-12 to move to 14-4 (5-2 NEWMAC), while WPI dipped to 9-11 (2-5 NEWMAC).
 
Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL) paced the Crimson and Gray with 10 kills while adding a team-high 16 digs with two service aces. Niki Szavuly (Woodinville, WA) contributed seven kills in two sets, while Julia Colantuoni (Amherst, NH) also recorded seven kills. Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) finished with six kills, two aces and five total blocks, while Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) added six kills and four total blocks. Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) directed the WPI attack with 20 assists to go along with three kills and three total blocks.
 
Addie Wooten (Ladera Ranch, CA) led Emerson with a match-high 16 kills while hitting .333, while Lizi Horning (El Dorado Hills, CA) added 14 kills. Chloe Hokenson (McLean, VA) totaled nine kills, 23 assists and 10 digs, while Rachel Dickerson (Frisco, TX) registered nine kills and 13 digs. Lauren Yoo (Los Angeles, CA) collected a match-high 20 digs, and Catherine McDonough (Los Angeles, CA) contributed five kills on a .400 hitting percentage and three solo blocks.
 
WPI jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the opening set behind three consecutive kills from Szavuly. Emerson responded and eventually pulled even at 13-13 before the teams traded points through the middle of the frame. The Engineers held a 21-20 edge following another Szavuly kill, but Emerson moved ahead 23-21. Lynch answered with a kill before an Emerson setting error tied the set at 23-all, but Wooten delivered consecutive kills to give the Lions the 25-23 victory.
 
The second set remained tight throughout. Emerson held a 16-15 advantage before WPI pulled even at 16-16 and then moved ahead 17-16 on a Colantuoni kill. The Lions answered to take a 20-17 lead, but the Engineers battled back behind another Colantuoni kill, a Hutchinson ace and a VanDamme kill to tie the frame at 20-20. Emerson scored five of the final six points, however, to take the set 25-21 and a 2-0 match lead.
 
WPI responded in the third, breaking open a 5-5 set with six straight points to build an 11-5 advantage. Lauren Boycourt (San Diego, CA) capped the run with a service ace before the Engineers continued to pull away. WPI extended its lead to 20-11 behind consecutive Spees aces and later reached set point at 24-17. After Emerson fought off one set point, Spees closed the frame with a kill for the 25-18 victory.
 
The teams were even at 6-6 early in the fourth before Emerson took control with a five-point run to move ahead 11-6. The Lions continued to build their advantage, extending the margin to 17-8 and later 22-12. Emerson scored the final three points to close out the set 25-12 and secure the match.
 
Both teams continue NEWMAC action on Tuesday at 7pm with WPI traveling to Wellesley and Emerson hosting Smith.