FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Junior right side hitter Emily Hickey (Kennebunk, Maine) swung for 11 kills to lead the Wheaton College women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-19) victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology this afternoon at the Athletic Center on the campus of Framingham State University in Framingham, Mass. in tri-match action. The Lyons win their fourth straight match to improve to 12-5 on the season, while the Leopards fall to 10-7.

Wheaton continued a healthy hitting trend that began in its first match of the day against Framingham State. The Lyons posted a .274 mark, including a .357 effort in the third set against Wentworth and also fired 14 aces.

Hickey also continued her efficient hitting for Wheaton with a .320 clip to go with a block solo. Senior outside hitter Adara Hamilton (Mercer Island, Wash.) registered a match-high 13 points with 10 kills, two aces and a block solo to go with five digs, while junior setter Hannah George (Duxbury, Mass.) directed the offense with 22 assists and got down for nine digs in addition to an ace. Junior defensive specialist Sophie Wilhelm (Saunderstown, R.I.) led all players with five aces and 12 digs for the Lyons.

Junior outside hitter Viviann Goulet (North Kingstown, R.I.) led Wentworth with eight kills and hit .273 for the match. She also picked up four digs and got up for three blocks. First year setter Lexi Zabloudil (London, Ohio) finished a dig short of a double-double with 14 assists and nine digs to go with five kills and a .176 hitting mark. 

The Leopards scored the first point to open the first set, but the Lyons scored seven unanswered points to take a 7-1 lead, behind three aces from sophomore defensive specialist Isabel Coca (San Marcos, Calif.). Wheaton maintained its lead throughout the match, but Wentworth closed to within 16-12. The Lions scored six straight points to take a 22-12 advantage, including a pair of aces from Wilhelm, and took the first set with ease. 

The teams played even throughout the second half with the Leopards maintaining a 17-16 edge late in the frame. Wheaton scored seven of the next eight points, including two aces from junior middle hitter Bailey Madrzyk (Barrington, R.I.), to take back the lead and own a 23-18 margin. The Lyons were sitting on set point at 24-19, but Wentworth was resilient, scoring four straight points to close to within a point. Wheaton was the beneficiary of a service error and took a 2-0 lead in the match.

Wheaton never trailed in the third set, but the Leopards were within striking distance at 14-13. The Lyons opened some breathing room with an 7-3 stretch to increase their lead to 21-16. Wentworth never got closer than 23-19, before Wheaton put the match away.

Wheaton returns to action on Tuesday, October 5 when it heads to Wellesley, Mass. to play New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference foe Wellesley College for a 7:00 p.m. tilt, while the Leopards travel across the city to play Suffolk University on the same night at 7:00 p.m.