BOSTON, Mass. (September 19, 2026) – Emerson College kept its strong start rolling with a pair of three set sweeps in a Saturday tri-match at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium today. The Lions opened with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-11, 25-10) victory over Muhlenberg College before topping Rhode Island College 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14) in their second match. Muhlenberg battled past RIC 3-2 (28-26, 15-25, 25-15, 15-25, 15-8) in the middle contest of the day.
With the wins, Emerson is off to a 9-1 start for the first time since 2022 when the Lions won ten of their first 11 matches.
Dickerson led the Lions attack in match one with eight kills and a .350 hitting percentage (PHOTO BY Doug Chin) |
Emerson 3, Muhlenberg 0 (25-23, 25-11, 25-10)
Senior Rachel Dickerson paced a balanced Emerson attack in the opening match with eight kills and just one error for a .350 hitting percentage and three digs. Sophomore Lizi Horning added seven kills, while junior Chloe Hokenson posted her fourth double-double of the season with six kills, 13 assists, 11 digs, a service ace and two blocks. Junior Sophia Schiappa contributed 16 assists, two aces and three digs.
Junior Abigail Oswari and freshman Lizzie Steinkamp each tallied a match-high nine kills to lead Muhlenberg, with Steinkamp adding nine digs. Junior Ansley Asche dished out 12 assists with nine digs for the Mules.
Emerson gained the edge it needed in the match by battling past Muhlenberg by just two points in an opening set that included 13 ties and six lead changes. The Lions turned the set around on the serve of Schiappa who earned five points, including two aces, for a three-point edge (24-21) after Horning's first kill of the match. Hokenson paced Emerson with four kills and four assists in the frame.
Emerson seized control of the second set and the match with four straight points on senior Lauren Yoo's serve, including an ace. Schiappa again served the Lions into control with five-point run for a 21-10 margin they would not relinquish, keyed by three kills from Horning – five total for the set.
Emerson closed out the match without trailing in the third set as Yoo served the Lions to a 4-0 lead at the start. Hokenson engineered the attack with five assists, adding two kills herself, while junior Sami Kim served up two of her team-high four aces in the final frame.
Wooten delivered a match-high11 kills and .714 hitting percentage in the three set win over RIC (PHOTO BY Gary Hernandez, '29) |
Emerson 3, Rhode Island College 0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14)
Chloe Hokenson made a run at her third triple-double of the season in just three sets, finishing with nine kills without an error for a .643 hitting percentage, 15 assists, two aces and seven digs for Emerson. First year Addie Wooten posted a match-high 11 kills with just one error for a .714 percentage for the Lions, while Sophia Schiappa dished out 12 assists with three aces and seven digs. Lauren Yoo contributed 11 digs, seven assists and two aces, while Lizi Horning rounded out the attack with seven kills.
Senior Sarina Marines paced Rhode Island College with nine kills, while senior Yuleisy Alvelo dished out 12 assists with two aces and six digs.
The first set was a battle again for Emerson, taking an opening set that included six ties and four lead changes. Senior Kori Meissner sealed the set with the final five points on her serve, including two of her team-leading three aces, while Wooten provided set point with her fourth kill of the set.
Yoo served Emerson to a quick lead it would not relinquish in the second set, while Hokenson paced the second set attack with six kills on nine total attacks (.667) without an error and six assists in the frame. Wooten paced the Lions in the third set to clinch the sweep, finishing the set with five kills on six total attacks (.833), while sophomore Dalena Garrett provided a late cushion with a five-point service run, including three aces, before Hokenson served out the match with an ace of her own.
Up Next:
Emerson (9-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) is right back in action here on Boylston Street on Tuesday when it opens NEWMAC play by hosting Mount Holyoke College at Brown and Plofker Gym at 7 p.m.
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