THE BASICS 

Score: Emerson 3, Clark 0

Records: Emerson Lions (14-7, 4-4 NEWMAC) ; Clark Cougars (12-11, 3-5 NEWMAC)

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

Date: October 24, 2021

The Lead: The Emerson women's volleyball team picked up a key NEWMAC victory in a sweep over Clark on Sunday afternoon at Brown & Plofker Gym to conclude their 2021 home schedule. Freshman Parker Cummings paced the Lions with a team-high 10 kills, while sophomore Caroline Davis led the way with 27 digs and four aces.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON

Cummings: 10 kills 
Rebecca Polsky: 16 assists & five aces
Davis: 27 digs & four aces
Jillian Kay: four blocks

CLARK

Claudia Rivera: seven kills
Sophia Torino: 12 assists
Marimo Oka: four aces & 13 digs
Sheyenne Williams: two blocks

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET ONE

• Emerson charged out the gate with a 5-0 run that was capped by a pair of Cummings' swings to propel ahead (12-4) after a Clark service error and forced the visitors to take a timeout. 
• The Lions continued to extend their lead up to eight up, but it was Oka to the rescue for the Cougars as she helped rack up the next five points to pull within three at 15-12. 
• Just as Clark got within striking distance, Emerson struck with the set's next 10 of 13 points and did not allow the visitors to get comfortable. Behind a service error by Clark, Emerson clinched the first set, 25-15. 

SET TWO

• After Emerson jumped out to a 6-3 lead, Clark began to regain momentum and tie the game up several times before taking their first lead at 12-11 behind a Lions attack and service error. 
• Clark's lead was short-lived as Emerson was able to respond with a quick three-point run to go up by four (18-14). 
• Up by three, Emerson saw its lead be erased by Clark's four point run and the Cougars went up one. Clark held the lead one last time at 22-21 on a swing from Williams, but it was Emerson who put up the set's next three points to go up 24-22. 
• One point away from taking set two, Clark kept it close at 24-23 after an attack error only to habe Emerson lock down the set win on a service error at 25-23. 

SET THREE

• Clark dominated the beginning portions of the third frame and maintained a one-point lead over Emerson that quickly vanished. Cummings' kill kicked off what became a 6-0 spark by Emerson and would bump the Lions' lead to six at 15-9. 
• The Cougars threatened with a string of three points to inch within three only to be answered with a Lions' 5-0 run of their own with the advantage up to eight (21-13).
• Clark would not go away quietly and struck with the next six consecutive points to dwindle Emerson's edge down to two, but the Lions would be able to tack on the next four of five points to take the third set and the win, 25-20.

UP NEXT 

• Emerson heads out on the road for the final week of the 2021 season and begins the week at Wheaton (Mass.) on Tuesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m.