Boston, Mass. - October 28, 2017 - The Springfield College women's volleyball earned a four-set win at Emerson on Saturday afternoon in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) showdown.

With the winner of today's game clinching a spot in the upcoming NEWMAC Championship, Springfield prevailed by the scores of 25-14, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21.  The win snapped the Pride's seven-game skid as Springfield is now 15-12, 5-5 in conference play.

Jen Donnelly (Exeter, R.I.) carried Springfield's offense as she totaled 20 of the Pride's 48 kills and individually hit at a .328 clip.  Five other players had at least five kills as Kayley Cimino (Cumberland, Maine) produced 30 assists in directing the Pride to a .238 hitting percentage.  Hannah Lozano (Stockton, Calif.) totaled a match-best 28 digs and Haley DeRoche (Haverhill, Mass.) delivered four service aces. 

 Springfield raced out to a 12-4 lead to start the match and rode the hot hand from Donnelly, who posted eight kills on 12 errorless swings in the frame. The Lions would get no closer than six points as Springfield hit .400 as a team en route to a 25-14 victory. 

In the second set, a block from Donnelly and Kait Bonsignore (St. Louis, Mo.) capped off a great burst by the Pride as it earned a quick 7-0 advantage.  Consecutive aces by Emerson forced the Pride into a timeout with a 17-15 lead, but a sideout kill by Donnelly kickstarted an 8-3 surge for the 25-18 victory.   Springfield hit .367 in the set and totaled five team blocks, including three from Bonsignore.

After Emerson seized a 10-5 lead in the third, Springfield battled back to knot things at 15-all on a solo stuff by Bonsignore.  The hosts then took advantage of six miscues by the Pride to pour on a 7-2 burst and sealed the 25-21 win with their 12th kill of the frame.

Donnelly got back on track with six kills in the fourth, a frame that featured four ties and three lead changes in the early going.  However, Springfield took advantage of 11 Emerson attack errors and turned a 17-16 edge into a 24-18 cushion on Donnelly's 20th kill of the afternoon.  Bridget Walsh (Garrison, N.Y.) wrapped up the 25-21 win for the Pride, delivering Springfield's 11th kill of the set.