BOSTON, Mass. – With Kat Rice and Jules Augustine both flooring 14 kills each on the night, the Emerson Women's Volleyball Team found their efforts fall just shy as the visiting Wheaton Lyons took a five-set thriller 21-25, 26-24, 25-27, 25-20 and 15-11. With the loss the Lions are now 12-9 overall and 2-4 in the NEWMAC while Wheaton improves to 10-9 on the year and 3-2 in conference play.

The first set saw the Lions manage to scrap to a win, even as the Lyons outhit EC .458 to .250, but it was the serving game that doomed the Lyons the first time around with six service errors. Jules Augustine and Kat Rice both threw down four kills in the set to lead the floor as Emerson took set one 25-21.

Set two proved to be a battle though that showcased 10 tie scores and four lead changes. The Emerson defense kept them in the set with 14 digs to Wheaton's 11, but the Lyons this time hit a nasty .375 in the set with eight kills from Kendall Jacobs with an .889 average as Wheaton held on for the 26-24 win.

With nearly 40 tie scores happening in the game and 19 lead changes, none held more than the third set with 12 ties and seven lead changes. With both teams putting up 13 kills and one block each it was Wheaton's attack errors and Emerson's five aces that made the difference this time. Juliana Tucker was on point as well, putting up 12 assists in the set to give EC the 27-25 edge.

Set four saw the Lions wear down a bit more though as they could only muster a .091 attack percentage as the Lyons stepped up for a .314 average. In addition the Lyons also put down two blocks in the set as EC still forced nine tie scores, but ultimately fell 25-20.

With all the fireworks in the match, the last set was all Wheaton though as they took the first point and never looked back. Kendal Jacobs amped up again in the set, putting down four kills as the Lyons ripped to a 15-11 win to close it out.

Up next the Lions hit the home hardwood again this week as they set to host Brandeis on Thursday night in Boston at Emerson's Brown-Plofker Gym.