Junior setter Gina Joyce finished with 38 assists and 10 digs in the Ducks' comeback win.

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Freshman outside hitter Dawn Herring (Prince Frederick, Md./Calvert) recorded 29 kills in her collegiate debut to rally Stevens Institute of Technology to a 3-2 (28-30, 24-30, 30-21, 30-28, 15-13) victory over SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday night at Elting Gym.

The match was the season opener for both teams.  Stevens dropped the first two games before rallying to win the next three.  The Ducks trailed 11-10 in the final game, but scored consecutive points to jump ahead.  After New Paltz pulled even at 13-13, Stevens scored the final two points, the last on a kill by Herring to complete the comeback.

"It was a very exciting match," said third-year head coach J.J. O'Connell.  "We got off to a slow start, but once we started to gel, we were able to get back in the match."

Herring's 29 kills were a school single-match record.  She shattered the mark of 27 set by senior Margeritte Abdelkodoos (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) in a 3-2 loss to Russell Sage on September 19 of last season.

Abdelkodoos finished with 13 kills while leading the team with 17 digs.  Junior setter Gina Joyce (Fort Myers, Fla./Cypress Lake) had 38 assists along with five kills, 10 digs and three blocks.  Sophomore outside hitter Micki Biltz (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) also recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.

Junior middle hitter Rachel Ostroff (North Miami, Fla./Miami Country Day) added seven kills, 14 digs and three blocks.  Sophomore libero Jin Bai (Edison, N.J./Edison) finished with 13 digs.

Stevens is back in action on Saturday, September 4, when it hosts the Skyline/NJAC Crossover tournament beginning at 10 a.m.