By Anthony Palacios
Fairfax County Times (Nov 26, 2025)

McLean native Chloe Hokenson was named to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference All-Conference second team for volleyball. While Hokenson is enjoying a strong season this year, the Emerson College sophomore setter/outside hitter captures the honor for the first time in her collegiate career. 

Hokenson started all 29 matches this year, playing 13 sets and averaging 2.02 kills, 5.53 assists, 0.45 service aces, 2.19 digs and 0.45 blocks per set. She currently ranks seventh among NEWMAC leaders in assists per set and eighth with 51 service aces for the Lions. 

"It was super sweet to be flooded by all the love from coaches, family and teammates," she said. "It started my day off good, and it was really nice to see people who I care about.. Care about me, too.

"It was definitely a big honor, I know, only like very talented players get on that list," she continued. "We're in a very competitive conference, so it was a cool recognition. I think I was surprised to receive it [the honor]." 

It's not the first time that Hokenson has had an illustrious sports career. In her sophomore year at Langley High School, led by head coach Susan Shifflett, she won the Regional Player of the Year. 

Hokenson said that when she joined the Saxons as a freshman years ago, she didn't have a ton of volleyball experience. She credited her former high school for preparing her for moments like these and for teaching her about leadership. 

"I think that just helped with my personal development and my teamwork skills," she said. "I had a lot of fun there." 

In that same season, she contributed to the Langley state title win in 2023. Hokenson appreciates the experience, as it was her final opportunity as a senior to capture glory before heading to college. 

"We had a great group of players that year and this season, moving into college, it's a lot different, like a whole other level," she said. "So, even an achievement, no matter how small, means that much more." 

In 2024, the transition for Hokenson wasn't tricky in terms of volleyball. The practices, drills and lifts were all similar to her experience at Langley. However, she explained that leaving "the nest" with her family helped her get out of her comfort zone. 

"I would say the school part was mostly the culture shock," she said. "Moving to Boston was difficult, and my brother goes to George Mason, so he's super close to home, so it was hard trying to experience a lot on my own. I'm super grateful that I do have the opportunity to live far away in a great city." 

For Hokenson, she always imagined she would play for an NCAA Division III school. Hokenson's club team expected many athletes like herself to play in college, which gave her a significant boost toward where she is now. 

Looking ahead to next season, Hokenson said she wants to get back out on the court immediately. She's excited for what's to come in 2026, as she's confident that the Lions will have another strong year. 

The future is bright for Hokenson. She logged 10 double-doubles and a NEWMAC-leading 2 triple-doubles (18th nationally) this season, dishing out 20-plus assists in 14 matches, including 30-plus in 7, and delivering a career-high 42 assists against Rivier University on Sept. 13. 

Also, while appearing in 54 matches over her first two collegiate seasons, she reached 1,000 career assists in October. The milestone alone means a lot to her. 

"I trained pretty much my whole life to be a setter, so it feels good getting an accomplishment that I worked a lot of my life for," she said. "I worked pretty hard in my freshman and sophomore years, so I'm glad that the results are paying off." 

Despite Emerson capped off with a (14-16) overall record, Hokeson believes that chemistry is one thing that they can improve since there were newer talents in 2025. Fortunately for Hokenson, the expectation is that she will continue to set records in college, as she did at Langley.