THE BASICS 

Match One Score: Bowdoin 3, Emerson 2

Match Two Score: Emerson 3, Manhattanville 0

Records: Emerson Lions (13-7, 3-4 NEWMAC) ; Bowdoin Polar Bears (17-4, 7-1 NESCAC) ; Manhattanville Valiants (14-6, 8-1 Skyline)

Location: Boston, Mass. (Brown & Plofker Gym)

Date: October 23, 2021

The Lead: The Emerson women's volleyball team honored its pair of seniors, Carolyn Vaimoso and Lauren Quan, for their accomplishments on and off the court. The Lions came away with the senior day split with a 3-2 setback against Bowdoin before they picked up a 3-0 sweep over Manhattanville on Saturday afternoon. 

Match One: Bowdoin 3, Emerson 2

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON

Amelia Combs: 16 kills
Logan Steenbergen: 11 kills & 4 block assists
Rebecca Polsky: 32 assists
Caroline Davis: 4 aces & 26 digs

BOWDOIN

Sophia Pahl: 15 kills
Ella Haugen: 34 assists
Sarah Evans: 3 aces
Allyson Hawkins: 23 digs

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After being down 8-5 in the opening set, Emerson charged back with a 6-1 streak to pull ahead 11-9 before Bowdoin answered with their own run of the next five points to reclaim the three-point edge (14-11). 
• Emerson snagged the lead back at 15-14 and were able to hold on despite several lead changes. When Bowdoin locked the score at 19-all on a Pahl swing, Emerson took off on a set-ending 6-1 run to claim the 25-20 win.
• The score was locked 6-all in the second when Emerson once again took off on a 6-0 spark to go up six at 12-6 on an ace by freshman Parker Cummings. Bowdoin closed the gap to within one twice before Emerson embarked on an extensive 5-1 run to go up five at 22-17.
• Bowdoin threatened twice more and got within two, but Emerson held on thanks to a swing from Combs to take the two set lead (25-22). 
• It was Bowdoin this time who got off to the fast start and jumped ahead 8-2 and continued to build their lead into double figures at 16-6. Emerson played the entire set from behind, but were able to form a slight comeback towards the end with a 5-0 run to pull within eight (23-15). A kill by Cori Gray and Lions attack error handed Bowdoin the 25-16 win to take set three.
• Emerson held the lead in the early bits of the fourth, but found themselves playing from behind once again as Bowdoin took off to a lengthy nine-point lead at 18-9 after a 9-1 streak. The closest Emerson was able to come to Bowdoin was six as the Polar Bears were able to claim the fourth set, 25-16. 
• Emerson charged out to the 5-2 lead to begin the fifth frame and maintained a three-point edge over Bowdoin, but that changed then that visitors tacked on the next four points to moved ahead, 10-9. 
• Three ties occurred with the second to last at 13-13 before Emerson were one point from a win after a kill from Cummings, but Bowdoin used two kills and an attack error to claim the comeback win, 16-14. 

Match Two: Emerson 3, Manhattanville 0 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

EMERSON

Brooke Maynez, Vaimoso & Isabella Chu: 7 kills
Shea McGovern: 17 assists 
Andrea Mendez: 2 aces
Quan: 15 digs
Isabella Cubba: 6 blocks (two solo & four assists)

MANHATTANVILLE

Ayla Ruiz: 7 kills & aces
Vianca Vital: 19 assists
Grace Ballagas: 14 digs

HOW IT HAPPENED

• There was no stopping Emerson in the first as the Lions powered out a quick 16-6 lead on Manhattanville and never let the Valiants get comfortable. With the score at 23-9 in Emerson's favor, the visitors were able to add five more points, but that would be it. The Lions sealed the first set win on an attack error by the Valiants, 25-14. 
• The second frame was a little closer as Emerson held on to a 10-6 lead only to see Manhattanville respond with five consecutive points to jump ahead for the first time at 11-10. 
• Manhattanville's lead was short as Emerson went back in front by five after a 8-2 run (18-13). The Valiants managed to stay close to the Lions, but never came closer than four as the hosts locked up the second set, 25-20, on a kill from Kay.
• Manhattanville used the beginning of the third set to stay in front at 8-6 as Emerson's defense went to work to help build an 11-8 lead for the hosts. The Lions' lead was short-lived as the visitors used another five-point streak to pull ahead 13-11.
• Emerson build a four-point lead over Manhattanville only to have the Valiants lock up the score at 19-all and stay within one to the very end, yet it was Emerson who came out on top as Vaimoso closed out the 25-22 win for the sweep. 

UP NEXT 

• Emerson has a quick turn around with a NEWMAC tilt on Sunday, October 24 at 1:00 p.m.