THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 20 MIT 3, Emerson College 0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-14)
 
- Records: No. 20 MIT (27-4), Emerson (15-10)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Rockwell Cage)
 
- The Lead: No. 20 MIT, seeded No. 3 in the NEWMAC Women's Volleyball Tournament, kicked off the postseason by defeating No. 6 seed Emerson College, 25-18, 25-23, 25-14, in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday night. With the win, the Engineers secured a spot in the semifinals for the 33^rd time in program history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: MIT jumped out to an 8-2 lead on a strong serving run by sophomore Ali Gibbs (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) which featured three aces. Despite the deficit, Emerson continued to attack as a kill by Amelia Combs brought it within 20-17. The Engineers then won five of the next six points as a kill by junior Ella Gragg (Morganton, N.C.) secured the win.
 
- Set 2: MIT built a 5-1 lead, capped by an ace from sophomore Daphne Gavros (Bel Tiburon, Calif.). The Lions stayed close and then a kill by Parker Cummings sparked a string of four straight points with her ace giving the visitors a 22-21 edge. Kills by Gragg and sophomore Claire Underwood (Yorba Linda, Calif.) put the Engineers back in front, however, a kill from Combs tied the score at 23. MIT capitalized on another Underwood kill and an Emerson setting error to clinch the win.
 
- Set 3: The Engineers raced out to a 13-3 lead, but the Lions battled back as a kill by Alexandria Montenegro narrowed the gap to 15-12. A kill from first year Peyton Brown (Parker, Colo.) and then three straight aces by senior Ashley Margetts (Brownsburg, Ind.) sparked a 10-2 match-ending run by the hosts.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Senior Consecrata Rozario (Cary, N.C.) and junior Lauren Keller (Albuquerque, N.M.) both produced nine kills and two blocks while Gragg tallied eight kills, three aces, and two blocks. Senior Emily Cheng (Sunnyvale, Calif.) posted 29 assists and eight digs as Gibbs registered four aces. Junior Ottavia Personeni (Bethesda, Md.) collected 14 digs while Margetts recorded nine digs and six aces. Gavros rounded out MIT with seven digs and four aces.
 
- Combs paced Emerson with eight kills as Cummings totaled six kills, four blocks, and two aces. Mia Rodriguez and Shannon Clark dished out 12 and eight assists, respectively, while Caroline Davis led all players with 19 digs. Isabella Cubba bolstered the defense with a match-high five blocks.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT will take on No. 2 Babson College in a NEWMAC Tournament semifinal which will be hosted by top-seeded Springfield College on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 3:30 p.m.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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