HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 9, 2006) – In a match-up between the last two undefeated teams in the Skyline Conference, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team posted a 30-14, 30-19, 30-27 victory over Farmingdale State University on Monday evening in Farmingdale, N.Y. With the win, the Ducks improved to 20-4 overall and 5-0 in the conference. The Rams dropped to 13-3 (3-1 Skyline) on the year.
Stevens, which has now won 26 straight matches against Skyline opponents, was led by sophomore middle blocker Jessica Gardner (Penfield, N.Y.), who had 12 kills and two blocks. Junior outside hitter Dawn Herring (Prince Frederick, Md.) finished with 12 kills to go along with three service aces and three blocks. Sophomore setter/right-side hitter Melissa Rhode (New Orleans, La.) added seven kills and seven digs.
Senior setter Micki Biltz (Lakewood, Ohio) contributed a team-high 39 assists and had six digs. Senior outside hitter/libero Rachel Ostroff (North Miami, Fla.) posted 14 digs and three service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Amanda Petrocelli (Norwood, N.J.) came off the bench to collect four kills, one dig and an ace.
Each of the first two games was tightly-contested until Stevens put together solid runs in the middle of the games to take control. Farmingdale raced to a 16-8 lead in the third and decisive game against the Ducks’ bench, but Stevens was able to regroup in time to pull out the three-point victory – which extended the Ducks’ win streak to 69 straight games against Skyline teams. The last game that Stevens lost to a Skyline opponent occurred during a 3-1 win over Centenary College on September 25, 2004.
The Ducks will be back in action on Friday when they take on Union College and Saint Michael’s College as part of the Skidmore College Tournament in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
