NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College women's volleyball team clinched the seventh seed in the upcoming New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament by virtue of a 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-12) victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) during Senior Day on Saturday in Emerson Gymnasium.

The Lyons improved to 13-19 overall and finished NEWMAC play with a 3-6 mark, winning three of their last four matches. Wheaton's victory was its 21st straight over the Engineers, and its 13th sweep. In the first round of the NEWMAC Tournament, the Blue and White will travel to second-seeded Wellesley College on Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. match. WPI was eliminated from postseason contention, slipping to 10-17 and 1-8.

Wheaton junior Lauren Kraus (Westboro, MA/Westboro) finished with 10 kills, moving into eighth on the program's career list, while turning in a team-high four service aces. During her final home match, senior Caitlin Farr (Yarmouth, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) dropped nine kills while hitting .600, collecting a kill on each of her five first-set attacks. She also tallied three aces.

Senior Liana Merrill (Northwood, NH/Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) totaled six kills, freshman Lauren McGrath (Wading River, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) turned in five, while classmate Miranda Howitt (San Francisco, CA/International) collected 28 assists. First-year Emily Davisson (Carpinteria, CA/Laguna Blanca School) had 11 digs, and sophomore Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) recorded a trio of aces.

Junior Becca Holmberg (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) had six kills and nine digs for WPI, while senior Kathryn Bomba (Chelmsford, MA/Notre Dame Academy) contributed five kills. Classmate Nikki Croteau (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) handed out 15 assists, and freshman Joan Porambo (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) had 20 digs.