THE BASICS 

Score: Emerson 3, Mount Holyoke 0

Records: Emerson Lions (18-4, NEWMAC 7-3); Mount Holyoke Lyons (13-12, NEWMAC 1-8) 

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

Date: October 29, 2022

The Lead: Led by Seniors Jillian Kay and Shea McGovern who tallied 10 kills apiece; the Emerson Women's Volleyball team defeated the Mount Holyoke Lyons on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. Prior to the game the Lions honored 8 seniors including Andrea Mendez, Logan Steenbergen, Rebecca Polsky, Olivia Tran, Anna Phillips, Caroline Bond, along with Kay and McGovern.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON

Jillian Kay: 10 kills and 2 blocks

Shea McGovern: 10 kills and 10 assists

Anna Phillips: 7 kills and 9 digs

MOUNT HOLYOKE

Madeline Barton: 7 kills

Saddie Duffrin: 17 assists

 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET ONE

• The Seniors for Emerson led the charge in the first set, racking up 9 of their 13 first-set kills. Aces from Phillips, Bond, and Mendez also helped keep Mount Holyoke at bay.
• Mount Holyoke built their largest lead to 6-4 before four consecutive points by Emerson gave the Lions the lead.
• Mount Holyoke fought back and took a one point lead before another four consecutive points gave Emerson put them ahead 14-8.
• The Lions would not relinquish this lead as they would close out the set by scoring six straight points and winning by a score of 25-15; with the final point being scored on a kill by Sophomore Brooke Maynez.

SET TWO

• Mount Holyoke showed early life in the second set, but a six-point Emerson rally saw the Lions ahead by a score of 8-3.
• Mount Holyoke fought back to tie the set at 10-10, before kills by Kay and McGovern helped the Lions pull away yet again.
• With the Lions ahead by only two points late in the set, kills by Kay, Polsky, and Sophomore Isabella Chu along with two aces from Bond would give Emerson the rally they needed to secure the set victory. Emerson would take a 25-17 victory in set number two.

SET THREE 

• The third set saw Emerson score first before Mount Holyoke took a 4-1 lead.
• The Lions quickly rebounded, scoring 12 of the next 14 points, giving themselves a 13-6 lead.
• Mount Holyoke was able to mount a comeback and bring the Lions lead within two points late in the third set. With Emerson up 22-18, kills by Freshman Taylor Esmie, Kay, and McGovern got the Lions to match point.
• The Lions sealed the deal on with a block by Kay and Polsky; giving the Lions a 25-20 victory and a 3-0 sweep.

UP NEXT 

The Lions finish with an overall record of 18-4 and a NEWMAC record of 7-3. This secured a 3^rd place finish in the NEWMAC and the Lions will host Smith College in the quarterfinals of the NEWMAC Playoffs on Tuesday, November 1^st.

FOLLOW THE LIONS 

• Want all things Emerson Women's Volleyball? Follow the team on Instagram at @emersonvolleyball, as well as Twitter at @EmersonVBALL. Be sure to also follow Emerson Lions Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.