BOSTON, Mass. - Junior outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) spiked for a match-high 16 kills to lead the Simmons College volleyball team in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-20) loss to host Emerson College this evening at Brown Plofker Gym in Boston, Mass. The Sharks fall to 8-11 on the season, while the Lions improve to 10-9.

Emerson hit a robust .302 for the match, including a .444 hitting percentage in the opening frame to set the tone.

Fredrickson hit .294 for the match for Simmons and added five digs and a pair of aces, while sophomore outside hitter Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) swung for nine kills to go with two aces and five digs. First year setter Jessica Phinney (Malden, Mass.) registered 25 assists and picked up six digs, while junior libero Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) scooped up a career-high 23 digs and fired a pair of aces.

Junior middle hitter Jules Augustine (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and first year outside hitter (Fara Cohen (Morristown, N.J.) each smashed 10 kills and hit .400 or better to lead the Lions. Cohen also added seven digs and a block assist. First year setter Moira Brennan (Glenview, Ill.) recorded 23 assists, got down for eight digs, served up two aces and got up for a block assist, while sophomore libero Sam Harton (Cartersville, Ga.) served for three aces and picked up 10 digs.

The Sharks took an early 4-2 lead in the first set, but the Lions went on a 9-2 run to take an 11-6 lead. Simmons later closed to within 14-13, but could not take the lead as Emerson pulled away for the victory. 

The teams played within three points of each other through the first 36 points with the Lions holding a 19-17 margin, but the home team closed out the set with six unanswered points to take a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Emerson took a 9-5 lead early in the third frame, but the Sharks put together a 6-2 spurt, fueled by a pair of kills from Fredrickson. Simmons later held a 14-13 edge, but the Lions ripped off seven straight points to take a 20-14 advantage. Emerson maintained a 22-16 cushion, before the Sharks scored four of the next five points, including a kill and an ace from Woodward, to pull within 23-20, but it was as close as the would get before the Lions closed out the set.

Simmons returns to action on Saturday, October 17 when it hosts Great Northeast Athletic Conference foe Mount Ida College at 12:00 p.m., while Emerson heads to New London, Conn. to take on Coast Guard Academy on October 20 at 7:00 p.m.