HOBOKEN, NJ (NOVEMBER 2, 2005) –The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team shutout St. Joseph’s (LI), 3-0 Wednesday night, earning the top seed in the Skyline Conference Tournament.  Stevens won the first game, 30-19, the second game, 30-12, and the third game, 30-17. Both teams entered the game 7-0 in conference play and with the win, the Ducks improved to 8-0 in the conference and 28-5 overall, tying the record for wins in a single season.  With the loss, St. Joseph’s picks up its first conference loss, falling to 7-1 and 17-12 overall. 

The Ducks will host the fourth-seeded Old Westbury at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 in the semifinal round of the conference tournament and second-seeded St. Joseph’s will play third-seeded Kings Point at noon.  The winner will meet in the championship match at 3 p.m. in Hoboken, NJ.

Sophomore Dawn Herring (Prince Frederick, MD) led the Ducks with 12 kills and freshman Melanie Volk (Thompson Station, TN) added 12 kills, six digs, six aces and three blocks.   Freshman Jess Gardner (Penfield, NY) tallied three blocks and two kills, while freshman Summer Hamilton (San Diego, CA) registered seven kills, five digs and one block. 

Senior Gina Joyce (Fort Myers, FL) contributed six kills, 11 digs, 29 assists and two blocks for the Ducks.  Freshmen Bethany Rankie (Poughkeepsie, NY) added four kills and three blocks, while Melissa Rhode (New Orleans, LA) totaled five kills and five digs.  Junior Rachel Ostroff (North Miami, FL) tacked on 10 digs and one ace.