THE BASICS 

Match One Score: Emerson 3, Suffolk 0 

Match Two Score: Emerson 3, Colby 0

Records: Emerson Lions (12-6, 3-4 NEWMAC) ; Suffolk Rams (7-13, 1-4 CCC) ; Colby Mules (9-7, 2-5 NESCAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. (Holmes Sports Center) 

Date: October 16, 2021

The Lead: The Emerson women's volleyball team picked up a tri-match sweep over Suffolk and Colby with their win streak extended to three on Saturday afternoon at Brown & Plofker Gym. 

MATCH ONE: Emerson 3, Suffolk 0

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON

Amelia Combs: 14 kills & two blocks
Rebecca Polsky: 15 assists
Logan Steenbergen: two aces
Carolyn Vaimoso: seven digs

SUFFOLK

McKenna Keowen: 11 kills
Harmony Johnson: 16 assists & one ace
Kenzley Bell: 20 digs

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET ONE

• Emerson quickly jumped out to the fast 9-3 start and maintained a lead of at least seven to the midway point of the first. 
• The Lions continued to build onto their lengthy lead with a 6-1 streak deep into the frame that bumped the hosts lead into double figures at 11 (22-11) after a Rams attack error. 
• Suffolk outscored Emerson 4-3 at the end of the first, but it was Emerson who tacked on the three points they needed as a swing from Kay locked up the 25-15 win. 

SET TWO

• Once again, Emerson were off to the races with a 6-2 edge over Suffolk to begin the second. Suffolk closed in within four, but Emerson answered with a 6-2 spurt to put them ahead of the Rams by eight (18-10). 
• Already up eight, Emerson put six of the next nine points to up their advantage into double figures for the second time in the match.
• Emerson held Suffolk to 16 points and came away with the 25-16 second set victory on a Rams attack mishap. 

SET THREE

• The third set began tighter than the opening frames and saw Suffolk grab its first lead over Emerson at 11-8. Emerson, who was playing from behind much of the set, got back on track with a 6-0 streak to erase a then three-point deficit to go ahead 14-11. 
• Suffolk kept within striking distance by one on two occasions, the first at 16-15 and the second at 18-17, but Emerson sparked ahead and took a five-point edge at 22-17. 
• When Emerson was a point away from the sweep, Suffolk threatened to force a fourth with the set's next three points to inch back within one at 24-23 on a kill by Gabby Elbrecht. Combs iced the win with her 14th kill as Emerson took the third, 25-23. 

MATCH TWO: Emerson 3, Colby 0

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Parker Cummings: nine kills
Polsky: 17 assists
Caroline Davis: 13 digs & four aces
Kay: five blocks (three solo, two assists)

COLBY

Hannah Wyllie: eight kills
Morgan Selby: 19 assists & 13 digs
Jenny Slaveck, Julia Hutchings & Wyllie: two aces

SET ONE

• Emerson began the first frame with a 5-1 lead and were able to hold on to its lead despite Colby closing in on several occasions by one. 
• Colby erased a four-point Emerson lead down one after a string of three points (18-17), yet Emerson responded with a spark of five straight scores up their lead to six at 23-17. 
• A kill by Bumpus and back-to-back aces by Slaveck got Colby within three at 23-20, but it was Emerson who used kills from Kay to close the first frame, 25-20. 

SET TWO

• Emerson gained its biggest score gap at 12-6 on a Steenbergen swing only to see Colby creep up and stay close at one before evening the score at 15-all on an ace. 
• The Lions were able to give themselves some breathing room thanks to a 7-0 run that was capped by a kill from Steenbergen (22-15). 
• Colby only was able to come within six at the end as Emerson took set two by the score of 25-18 after Steenbergen sent down another swing. 

SET THREE

• Emerson burst out to a 9-1 lead in the third set and showed no signs of slowing down as their lead suddenly jumped to nine on one of Davis' four aces (12-3). 
• The Purple & Gold were able to keep the Mules at bay and kept them within at least six before a quick 4-1 streak pushed Emerson's lead to 10 (23-13).
• A service error and Slaveck kill were all Colby could scrape up at the end with a Mules service and attack error handing the 25-15 third set win to the Lions. 

UP NEXT 

• Emerson gets back into NEWMAC competition on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. when they host Clark.