Worcester, Mass. – In a match that featured a pair of teams with a combined record of 26-2, visiting MIT rallied from a set down to knock off host Clark University, 3-1 in New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) volleyball action in a packed Kneller Athletic Center on Tuesday night.

The win for the Engineers sends their record to an impressive 15-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference contests. The Scarlet and White, meanwhile, see their record go to 12-2 and now have their first conference blemish at 4-1.

Things started out well for the Cougars as a rocking crowd carried them to the first set 25-19 win. Courtney Pharr (Seattle, Wash.) was the catalyst in the frame as she recorded seven of her season-best 13 kills – including three of the final four, helping Clark seal the set.

MIT rebounded in the second set, racing out to an early 11-3 lead behind three kills from Megan Gebhard (Howell, Mich.) and some excellent passing from Fiona Tanuwidjaja (Redmond, Wash.). Down 21-11 after Tanuwidjaja set up Ali Davanzo (St. Johns, Fla.) for a kill, Clark inched closer. A pair of kills from Shannon Glass-Smythe (Albuquerque, N.M.) and back-to-back kills from Marina Ramos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) had the Cougars within six at 22-16, but the Engineers closed out the set with a pair of service aces from Jennie Glerum (Redmond, Wash).

The third set was nip and tuck until the midway point when MIT put together a string of points to take a big lead and when Lisette Tellez (Miami, Fla.) put down a kill, the Engineers were ahead 22-14. Clark moved closer on a Ramos kill and one from Ana Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), but MIT ended the set with the final two points.

In the fourth set the teams were back and fourth for the first half and after another Ramos kill, the score was knotted at 16-16. MIT then strung together three straight points to move ahead 19-16. The Scarlet and White made one final push, getting as close as 21-20 but the visitors recorded four of the final five points to take the set and the match.

The statsheet was pretty even for both teams as each had 10 service errors and the Engineers held slight advantages in kills, 50-48 and assists 48-45.

Gebhard finished with a match-high 17 kills to lead the offensive attack for MIT, while Tellez racked up 12 kills and 13 digs. Tanuwidjaja handed out 42 assists to go along with eight digs and Clare Farley (La Jolla, Calif.) chipped in with 17 digs.

In addition to Pharr, Clark was paced by Ramos, who recorded 17 kills and a match-high 19 digs. Glass-Smythe just missed out on a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs and both Rayme Quiban (Seattle, Wash.) (14) and Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif.) (15) collected double figure digs.

Webb was stellar again for the Cougars, dishing out 41 assists – the fifth time this season she has topped the 40 assist mark.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday with tri-matches. MIT travels to Wheaton to take on the Lyons and Framingham State, while the Scarlet and White host Farmingdale State and Connecticut College.