NORTON, Mass. (October 28, 2025) – Emerson College fought off a Wheaton College charge from two sets down for a 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 15-13) triumph in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's volleyball action at Evelyn Danzing Haas Athletic Center to clinch a spot in the upcoming NEWMAC tournament tonight.
Sophomore Chloe Hokenson posted her ninth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 24 assists, adding nine digs, three service aces and four block assists for Emerson. The Lions sealed a spot in the upcoming NEWMAC Tournament with the win, sitting two games in front of ninth place Worcester Polytechnic Institute with two Conference matches to play, but holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Engineers.
Junior Rachel Dickerson led Emerson with 14 kills to go with two aces, eight digs and two block assists, while first-year Shirley Yu reached double-figures for kills for the 12th time this fall, finishing with ten and a pair of block assists. Junior Lauren Yoo contributed defensively with 20 digs, four assists and an ace, while sophomore Sophia Schiappa dished out 19 assists. First-years Emma Luehring and Catherine McDonough both chipped in six blocks with one solo apiece, while classmate Lizi Horning collected ten kills for the Lions.
Senior Celina Henn led Wheaton with a match-high 16 kills with 18 digs, two blocks and a service ace. First-year Emily Cordell dished out 20 assists, three aces and five digs for the Lyons, while junior Ajsa Orban added 14 assists and 12 digs. Junior Jackie Hochberg tallied 20 digs, seven assists and two aces for the Lyons.
Emerson closed out the match in five after winning the opening two sets and weathering a Wheaton comeback. The Lions used a 4-1 spurt move to match point (14-10) after a kill and ace by Hokenson, but Wheaton made one final push with three-straight points after a kill by junior Mary Caroline Mazzanti. Dickerson sealed the Lions win with a kill to deliver match point.
The match featured 29 ties and 14 lead chances throughout, with Emerson poised for a sweep after taking the first two sets by 25-23 margins. Hokenson tallied four kills on six total attacks, and four assists in the second set for the Lions. She and Dickerson stepped up in the fifth set with four kills apiece, while Hokenson also collected two assists.
After the win, Emerson heads into its final two NEWMAC matches a game behind Smith College for fourth place after the Bears dropped a match tonight against Mount Holyoke College. Coast Guard (4-4), Mount Holyoke (4-5) and Wellesley (4-5) are close behind the Lions in the NEWMAC standings with two to play.
Emerson (13-12, 5-4 NEWMAC) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Gordon College for a non-conference matchup at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium at 5 p.m. Wheaton (10-16, 2-7 NEWMAC) hosts Nichols College for a non-conference match here on Thursday at 7 p.m.
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