Game 1: MIT 3, Emerson 1

No. 1 MIT prevailed over No. 8 Emerson in the first round of conference play Tuesday night, advancing to the NEWMAC semifinals with set scores of 25-19, 27-25, 20-25, 25-12. 

MIT found openings in Emerson’s offense, after the Lions committed nine total attacking errors in the first set. Graduate student Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.) contributed 13 kills, second only to junior Ali Gibbs (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), who had 14 kills and four blocks on the night. Defensively, Kayleigh May (Camarillo, Calif.) led with six blocks. 

Emerson played well, keeping MIT on their toes and forcing the Engineers to 27 points in the second set. The Lions fought back to win the third, led by 23 Amelia Combs (Eugene, Ore.) kills and 21 digs from graduate student Caroline Davis (Orlando, Fla.).

In the end, MIT shut Emerson down with a 25-12 fourth set. The Engineers, still undefeated in conference play, will host Babson on Saturday. 
 

Game 2: Babson 3, Clark 1

No. 4 Clark and No. 5 Babson, both entering the championship tournament 7-4, were evenly matched and equally challenged in Tuesday night’s quarterfinal. However, it was the Beavers who came away with the win by scores of 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, and 27-25.

Babson opened the first set 2-0, but ultimately neither side pulled ahead with a greater lead, battling in point-by-point rallies. Graduate student Victoria Pastor (Guaynabo, P.R.) got the ball rolling for Clark, contributing three kills in the set and 16 on the night.

Babson’s Isabella Allen (Williamsville, N.Y.) also had three kills in the opening set, 15 total for the match. However, Clark’s defense, including 2 blocks from outside hitter Camille Flurry (Athens, Ga.) would shut the Beavers out of the first set. 

Clark did not find the same rhythm in the following sets, as senior Lauren Gips (Winter Park, Fla.) and sophomore setter Zoe Ackerman (Aurora, Colo.) heated up at the net with 14 kills and 37 assists respectively. 

Clark finishes 14-12 overall and 7-5 in conference play. Babson, 23-6 overall and 8-4 in the NEWMAC, advances and will face No. 1 MIT on the road Saturday afternoon.

 

Game 3: Smith 3, Wellesley 1 

No. 3 Smith beat out No. 6 Wellesley in Tuesday night’s NEWMAC Women’s Volleyball Quarterfinal by scores of 25-19, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-22. 

Junior Abby Hunt (Mandeville, La.) led the Pioneers with six first-set kills and 16 total on the night. Sophomore Mia Etheridge (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) also found an offensive flow, contributing 13 kills to the team win.

On Smith’s defensive end, graduate student Taylor Gwynne (Chapel Hill, N.C.) recorded 11 digs in addition to her 34 assists. Anna Feuer (Federick, Md.) led the Pioneers with four blocks.

After coming close in the first two sets, Wellesley set out strong in the third, starting with a 7-3 lead that the Blue refused to give up. First-year Else Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) closed the set with one of 11 kills on the night, just behind Kate Giang’s (Corte Madera, Calif.) leading 15 kills. Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) led Wellesley with 21 digs.

Ultimately, Smith closed the game in four sets, ending Wellesley’s season 13-10 and 6-6 in NEWMAC play. The Pioneers advance, 29-6 and 9-3 in the conference, to face No. 2 Springfield this Saturday. 

 

Game 4: Springfield 3, Coast Guard 1

After being swept by the Bears during the regular season, No. 2 Springfield defeated No. 7 Coast Guard in four sets to advance to Saturday’s NEWMAC Women’s Volleyball Semifinals. 

With set scores of 25-18, 25-22, 25-27, and 25-21, Springfield was led by senior Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.), who recorded a season-best 20 kills. Junior Maeve Voltz (Bay Shore, N.Y) racked up a 16-kill performance with three additional blocks, while Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) also found her offensive flow, tacking on her season-high of 16 kills and a team best 19 digs.

Coast Guard’s Shannon Shaw (Torrance, Calif.) picked up 14 digs and 15 kills, while first-year Amelia Matson (Stafford, Va.) tacked on 14 kills of her own. Backed defensively by libero Kaela France (Calhan, Colo.), the Bears gained momentum and pulled ahead in the third set, denying Springfield the sweep. 

Ultimately, Coast Guard would not get within three points of Springfield in the fourth set, closing their season 17-12 overall and 6-6 in the NEWMAC.

Springfield will advance and face No. 3 Smith at MIT on Saturday.

 

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.