WORCESTER, MA- The Wheaton College women's volleyball team took control of its playoff fate by gutting out a 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 10-25, 15-12) triumph over Clark University during New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Tuesday evening in Kneller Athletic Center. By tying the Cougars for seventh in the league standings, the Lyons clinch a NEWMAC Tournament berth with a win on Saturday.

Wheaton improved to 12-19 overall and 2-6 in league play, as only ninth-place Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) remains on the regular season schedule. The Lyons, who are 7-3 in their last 10 matches, host the Engineers for Senior Day on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Clark slipped to 11-12 and 2-6 with the loss.

Junior Lauren Kraus (Westboro, MA/Westboro) led the Lyons with 12 kills and six service aces, moving into the top 10 in program history for career kills, as she is tied for ninth. Freshman Miranda Howitt (San Francisco, CA/International) tallied a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs, while sophomore Becca Rose (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) collected 35 assists, breaking the 2,000-helper barrier for her career.

Sophomore Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) turned in a team-high 14 digs, going over 1,000 for her career, while freshman Emily Davisson (Carpinteria, CA/Laguna Blanca School) added 12 digs and three aces. Senior Liana Merrill (Northwood, NH/Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) dropped four aces.

Junior Maritza Fair (Bronx, NY/Nightingale-Bamford School) recorded match highs of 25 kills and 15 digs for Clark, while freshman Kristin McGinty (Gypsum, CO/Vail Christian) had 13 kills and five blocks. Classmate Amira Tranchell (Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) also totaled 13 kills.