NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Junior outside hitter Chris Bock (Empangeri, South Africa/University-Fla.) recorded a match-high 25 kills to lead fourth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology to a 3-1 (27-30, 30-28, 30-27, 30-28) win over seventh-ranked SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday night in a North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Metro Division match.

Stevens, ranked fourth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III coaches poll, improves to 20-6 overall and 11-0 in NECVA Metro Division play.  The Ducks clinched the NECVA Metro crown with their 28th straight conference win dating to the 2003 season.  Stevens, which went 12-0 in conference play last season, has just one Metro match remaining (April 2 vs. Mount Saint Vincent).  SUNY New Paltz falls to 17-9 and 6-3.

Stevens had to battle back after dropping the opening game.  The Ducks hit .378 (19-5-37), but the Hawks were even better, hitting an impressive .406 (18-5-32).  Both teams struggled in the second game, but Stevens managed to even the match by winning a close second game, 30-28.

The Ducks hit a crisp .373 (32-10-59) over the final two games to win a match in which all four games were decided by three points or less.

Bock hit .463 (25-6-41) and finished just one kill shy of his season-high.  Junior outside hitter Greg Higgins (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) added 15 kills while senior outside hitter Brian Woodworth (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) contributed 13 kills.  Freshman setter Steve Strollo (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown) had 50 assists along with a team-high 10 digs.

Chris Ganje had 21 digs while Mike LaRocco added 13 for New Paltz.

Stevens returns to action after spring break when it travels to Princeton, N.J., on Wednesday, March 30, for a 7 p.m. match against Division I Princeton.