Hoang Records Career-High 29 Digs as Blue Volleyball Downs Emerson, 3-1

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Samantha Hoang (Elk Grove, Calif.) had a career-high 29 digs to lead Wellesley College volleyball to a 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-13, 25-14) victory over Emerson College in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams on Tuesday evening at Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gymnasium.

The Blue improve to 5-3 (1-0 NEWMAC) with the victory over the Lions. Emerson drops to 7-3 (0-1 NEWMAC) on the year. 

Hoang eclipsed the 20-dig plateau for the third consecutive match in the Blue victory. The sophomore now has three 20-plus dig performances in the Blue's opening eight matches of 2016, already matching her total from 2015. 

Classmate Yasmine Reece (New Rochelle, N.Y.) unleashed her third 25-kill effort of the season, finishing with a double double by also adding 12 digs. Sophomore setter Michelle Li (Scarsdale, N.Y.) totaled 43 assists and added five kills, while sophomore Ashley Peng (San Diego, Calif.) added nine kills and eight digs. First year Kennedy Ulfig (Saline, Mich.) chipped in with 14 digs.

For Emerson, sophomore Fara Cohen (Morristown. N.J.) and first year Bella Edwards (Palisades, Calif.) each recorded double doubles. Cohen paced the Emerson attack with 15 kills, adding 10 digs. Edwards finished the night with 11 kills and a team-high 16 digs. Junior Sam Harton (Cartersville, Ga.) also finished in double figures on defense with 10 digs, while sophomore setter Moira Brennan (Glenview, Ill.) racked up 36 assists.

The Lions opened the 2016 NEWMAC season with a first set victory, downing the Blue in a close opener by a score of 25-23. Emerson broke a 9-all tie midway through the frame with a 5-1 run that helped them to take a 14-10 advantage. The hosts held the lead for the remainder of the set, holding off a late Blue charge to close out the game when Cohen put down the final point on an assist from Edwards. 

Wellesley stormed out to a 10-4 edge in the second set and never looked back. The Blue would eventually lead by an 18-7 margin en route to tying the match with a 25-19 second set victory. Wellesley continued to carry the play in the third set, shaking off an early 6-2 deficit to run to a lead of 17-12. The Lions roared back to make the score 18-17 following a kill from senior Jules Augustine (Skaneateles, N.Y.), but Wellesley stood up to the late push to close out the game, 25-23, on a kill by Reece.

The Blue saved their best performance for last, taking a commanding 25-14 win in the fourth set to close out the match, 3-1. Reece finished with eight of her 25 kills in the fourth set to help the Blue clinch the victory. 

Wellesley will travel to Atlanta, Ga. this weekend for the Emory Invitational. The Blue open the tournament against the host, and No. 6 nationally ranked, Eagles on Friday, September 16, at 7:30 PM. Emerson will play at cross-town rival Suffolk in their next match on Thursday evening, September 15, at 7:00 PM.