CORTLAND, N.Y. (October 12, 2007) – Junior middle blocker Jessica Gardner registered 11 kills, five blocks, three service aces and a pair of digs as the 20th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team kicked-off the SUNY Cortland Invitational with a win over Daemen College earlier this evening in Cortland, N.Y. The four game decision in favor of the Ducks (30-20, 34-32, 30-25, 30-19) had Stevens produce a season high 14.5 team blocks.

Senior outside hitter Dawn Herring posted 10 kills, 15 digs and a team high four service aces as junior outside hitter Melanie Volk recorded 20 digs, eight kills and five blocks. Junior setter/right-side hitter Melissa Rhode had a team high 21 assists as she collected five kills, two aces and a pair of blocks.

The Ducks received a strong performance from junior middle blocker Summer Hamilton who led the team in blocks with six as well as having posted six kills. Freshman right-side hitter Maggie Majcher chipped in with five kills and added two blocks.

In the night-cap match against the Knights of SUNY Geneseo Stevens jumped ahead two games (30-21,30-16) but lost the third in a tight battle by the score of 31-29. The Ducks pulled ahead in the fourth with a 30-19 victory to post two wins on the first day of the SUNY Cortland Invitational. Herring recorded 10 kills and seven digs, while Hamilton amassed eight kills and four blocks. Rhode and Majcher each registered six kills as Rhode finished with 16 assists and five service aces. Volk chipped in with seven kills and a pair of aces.

Stevens received solid performances from freshman outside hitter Sarah Byrne who reported five kills and five digs, while senior right-side hitter JoAnne Pojuner served-up a pair of aces and posted two kills with two digs. Freshman setter Kaitlyn Taylor led the team in assists having accumulated 21.

Gardner was 20 points shy of 1,000 career points entering tonight's two matches. She posted a total of 25 points surpassing the mark and bringing her career total to 1,005. She now joins Rhode, Volk and Herring who have each accomplished this outstanding feat.

The Ducks return to action tomorrow as they face Hunter College at noon followed by SUNY Cortland at 2 p.m. in the second day of the Cortland Invitational. Stevens advances to 23-1 on the season as they look to hold the number one spot for the NCAA Division III New York Region.