Rachel Ostroff registered 28 digs in the victory over New Paltz Wednedsday night.

HOBOKEN, NJ – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team improved its record to 4-0 to begin the season following a 3-1 victory over New Paltz Wednesday evening at Walker Gymnasium in Hoboken, NJ.

The Ducks won the first game, 30-24, but the Hawks evened the score at a game apiece with a 30-26 victory in the second game. That would prove to be the only game New Paltz would win as the Ducks captured the next two games, 30-27 and 30-13, to register their fourth match victory of the season.

Freshmen Melissa Rhode (New Orleans, LA) and Melanie Volk (Thompson Station, TN) each had 16 kills against the Hawks, while sophomore Dawn Herring (Prince Frederick, MD) added 12.

Junior Rachel Ostroff (N. Miami, FL) had 28 digs and Rhode contributed 16 for the Ducks. Junior Micki Biltz (Lakewood, OH) registered a game-high 51 assists to go with her 14 digs.

Rhode and fellow freshman Bethany Rankie (Poughkeepsie, NY) each had three blocks for Stevens.

Limited by injuries, several new faces saw increased action in Wednesday’s match and made significant contributions in the contest.

Christina Mazurowski led New Paltz with a game-high nine blocks to go along with her eight kills, three assists, four digs.

The Ducks return to action this Friday and Saturday, traveling to Ithaca, NY, to compete in the Ithaca Tournament. Stevens will face MIT and RIT at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively on Friday. Opponents and times will be determined for Saturday’s matches following the results of Friday’s competition.