BOSTON, Mass. – Despite a combined 29 kills from junior Julia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) and freshman Eileen Shi (San Francisco, Calif.) volleyball failed to open their 2015 season on a winning note, as they were handed a 3-2 loss by Emerson College Tuesday afternoon at Brown Plofker Gym. 

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 2, Emerson College 3
UMass Boston (0-1, 0-0 Little East Conference)
Emerson College (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Looking to win their first season opener since the 2010 season, the Beacons traveled up the road to take on the Lions of Emerson College.  The Beacons came out firing in the first set to take a 25-18 win.  However, Emerson would respond in the second with a 25-18 victory of their own.

UMass held off a late surge by the home squad to take a 25-21 win in the third to move into a 2-1 lead.  In the fourth, the Beacons had the win in their grasp, but a service error on match point would give the Lions a second chance, which they took full advantage of.  Emerson tied the match at 2-2 with a 27-25 win to move the match into the fifth set.

From the opening serve in the fifth, the Lions controlled the momentum and cruised to a 15-9 win, their first over the Beacons since October 28, 2008.

Murphy got her junior season off to a solid start scoring 15 kills on 33 attempts to lead the match.  Shi posted a team-high .385 hitting percentage, after scoring 14 kills on 26 attempts.  Wheaton College (Mass.) transfer Colleen Koen (Centerville, Mass.) also finished in double-figures as she dropped in 10 kills.

Junior setter Pepper Baker (Tallahassee, Fla.) posted a combined 32 assists, which was the fourth most in her career.  Elizabeth Glavan (Edina, Minn.) tallied 12 digs, while Shi finished with her first collegiate double-double after tallying 11 put-ups.

Proving to be the biggest back breaker for the Beacons was their inconsistency at the end line as they totaled 17 service errors.  They did manage 15 aces, but it was not enough to knock off the Lions.

THE NUMBERS GAME

• Volleyball has now dropped five straight season openers dating back to the 2011 season
• Today's match marked the first time since 2005 that the Beacons faced an in-state opponent in their season opener.  They faced Simmons College on September 8, 2005 and earned a 3-2 win.
• The Beacons dominated the first set of the match with a .381 hitting percentage, and had 11 kills on 21 attempts.  They would hit over .300 in the fourth, but were edged out by the Lions.
• Shi accounted for 33 of the Beacons 89 service receptions, with Glavan finishing right behind her with 32.

NEXT UP

The Beacons will travel to Chicago, Ill. for a two-day four match tournament at Elmhurst College.  Of the four teams, the Beacons are facing, three are ranked on the AVCA Preseason National Poll.