ITHACA, NY – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team won both of its matches on Saturday to finish ninth in the Ithaca Bomber Invitational on Saturday in Ithaca, NY. The Ducks earned victories in four games over Oneonta in the morning and Brockport in the afternoon to improve to 7-1 for the season. Stevens finished the weekend tournament 3-1.  

After dropping the opening game to Oneonta, 36-34, the Ducks won the final three games, 30-28, 30-24 and 30-12 to advance to play Brockport in the afternoon. Sophomore Dawn Herring (Prince Frederick, MD) registered 15 kills without an error on 36 attempts, to go along with 13 digs and four service aces. Freshman Jessica Gardner (Penfield, NY) had nine kills and four digs, while freshman Melissa Volk (Thompson Station, TN) recorded 13 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Beth Rankie (Poughkeepsie, NY) had four kills without an error on 12 attempts. Junior setter Micki Biltz (Lakewood, OH) registered 39 assists, 16 digs and four kills. Freshman Melissa Rhode (New Orleans, LA) had 16 digs to go along with 10 kills, while junior Rachel Ostroff (N. Miami, FL) added 23 digs against Oneonta.

Stevens earned its second victory of the day against Brockport in the afternoon session. The Ducks won the first game, 30-21, but dropped the second, 30-26. Stevens responded with victories in the next two games (34-32, 30-21) to seal the win. Herring posted 16 kills and 13 digs. Rhode had 15 kills, eight digs and four service aces. Volk tallied 13 kills, and seven digs to go along with four blocks. Rankie was a force around the net with seven blocks and five kills. Biltz had 44 assists, 10 digs and four blocks. Ostroff contributed 24 digs.

Stevens will return to action next Wednesday, Sept. 14, as the Ducks travel to NYU for a 7 p.m. match.