Emerson Stages Comeback Against Blue Volleyball, 3-2

BOSTON, Mass. – Despite trailing 2-0, Emerson staged a comeback to win a 3-2 (13-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-13, 15-9) NEWMAC match against Wellesley College volleyball at Bobbi Brown & Steven Plofker Gym on Tuesday night.

Junior Amelia Combs (Eugene, Ore.) and first years Rachel Dickerson (Frisco, Texas) and Shannon Clark (Shrewsbury, Mass.) each had double-doubles for the Lions (13-8 Overall, 4-5 NEWMAC). Senior Caroline Davis (Orlando, Fla.) had a match-high 27 digs and first year Maya Hall (New York, N.Y.) had seven block assists.

First year Kate Giang (Corte Madera, Calif.) had a match-high 19 kills in addition to 19 digs for the Blue (10-11 Overall, 2-7 NEWMAC). Classmate Madeline Zornek (Orlando, Fla.) added 21 assists and 10 digs and sophomore libero Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) recorded 23 digs.

Wellesley raced out to an 11-2 lead in the first set, and kept the opposition at bay in a 25-13 first set that saw 12 kills and a .320 hitting percentage from the Blue.

A three point run gave Wellesley some distance from Emerson at 10-6 in the second set. While the Lions hung around, a 6-0 run gave the Blue a commanding 21-12 lead and a kill from first year Mary Beeler (Menlo Park, Calif.) gave Wellesley a 25-18 set.

Wellesley won six straight points to open the third set, including a pair of service aces from Zornek. The Blue extended the score to 16-6 before the Lions mounted a comeback, winning 13 of the next 16 points to make the score 19-19. Emerson won six of the final seven points, capitalizing on a trio of service aces from Clark to win a 25-20 set.

Emerson controlled the whole 25-13 fourth set, with 16 kills and a .278 hitting percentage to force a deciding set.

After trading the first six points in the fifth set,  the Blue won three straight to go up 6-3 before Emerson won five in a row to counter. Emerson took advantage of its offensive opportunities to finish off a 15-9 set and complete the comeback.

The Blue will return home on Thursday, October 26 for a non-conference game against Plymouth State at 6:00 PM. The Lions host Fisher in a non-conference game on Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 AM.