Emerson Overpowers Women's Volleyball in Non-Conference Thriller

BOSTON, Mass. – Top NEWMAC contender Emerson College defeated the Wentworth women's volleyball team in four sets (25-27, 25-10, 27-25, 27-25) on Saturday morning inside Tansey Gymnasium.

The Leopards suffer their first loss since mid-September, and drop to 15-5 overall, while the Lions climb to 12-5 in a breakout season.

STAT LEADERS

• Kills – Leah Rogoz (19), Samantha Lassiter (12), Riley Waggoner (8)
• Digs – Lexie Cambray (25), Leah Rogoz (14), Ashley Lavigne (13)
• Assists – Ashley Lavigne (20), Jordan Chapman (19)
• Blocks – Samantha Lassiter (3)
• Service Aces – Ashley Lavigne (5)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams went the distance from the start in the four-set match that lasted just shy of two hours. Three of four sets went to extra points, including the opener where Emerson gained a 1-0 match lead hitting .267 as team.
• Trailing 4-1 to start the second set, freshman Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.) started the Leopards on a 4-0 run with a kill and a service ace to take over, 5-4. A quick 3-0 spur from Emerson with back-to-back kills from Albany Alexander and Grace Tepper changed the lead yet against, before freshman Ashley Lavigne (Waterford, N.Y.) continued her serving dominance and led Wentworth to an 8-0 run with three aces in the stretch. The eight-point deficit (15-7) proved too substantial for the Lions, as a 6-0 run with Lexie Cambray (Bedford, N.H.) on the serve put the set out of reach. Wentworth dominated the set with .308  hitting as a team as both teams headed into the third set tied at 1-1.
• Both teams were neck-and-neck in the third set until the Lions gained a 21-17 advantage following two Wentworth miscues. A kill from senior Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) and an assisted block from freshman Riley Waggoner (Simi Valley, Calif.) and sophomore Mary Zlotosch (Durham, N.H.) kept the Leopards in it, tying the set at 22-22 and 23-23, but Emerson never surrendered the lead as a kill from Albany Alexander and a Wentworth attack error gave the Lions a 2-1 match advantage.
• The Leopards held the advantage for a majority the last set until the Lions staged a late comeback and erased a six-point deficit. A kill by freshman Jordan Chapman (Clearwater, Fla.), gave Wentworth a 22-16, but Emerson stunned the Leopards with six unanswered points to tie the set. The set would tie thrice more before back-to-back attack errors from WIT sent the Lions home with a 3-1 victory.

NOTEWORTHY

• Rogoz recorded the 12^th double-double of her senior campaign and put 21.5 points on the scoreboard with two aces and an assisted block alongside 19 kills.
• Lassiter posted career-high offensive numbers, while Cambray booked a new season-high on defense.
• Lavigne's 20 assists are a career-high for the freshman.
• With the win Emerson brings the all-time series with Wentworth to 8-8 and wins its first match against the Leopards since 2013.

NEXT

• Wentworth closes out its six-match homestand with a 7:00 p.m. conference match on Wednesday against Curry.

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