ALFRED, N.Y. (October 21, 2007) – The 21st-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team registered its 38th consecutive win against a conference opponent that dates back to the 2003 season. Having swept Elmira College (30-21, 30-23, 30-20) and Utica College (30-19, 30-21, 30-14) in the final day of conference play, the Ducks advance to 30-1 on the season and earned the first-place standing (8-0) as they have beaten every opponent in the Empire 8 Conference.
In the first match of the day Stevens defeated the Soaring Eagles of Elmira as junior setter/right-side hitter Melissa Rhode posted her 12th triple-double of the season. Rhode accumulated 11 kills, 16 assists and 10 digs, while middle blocker Jessica Gardner totaled seven kills and five blocks. Junior outside hitter Melanie Volk and junior middle blocker Summer Hamilton each recorded eight kills as Volk added six digs and two service aces, while Hamilton finished with a pair of blocks and two aces.
The Ducks received a solid performance from their freshmen core of setter Kaitlyn Taylor and libero Julia Reilly. Taylor passed 20 assists as Reilly chipped in with 21 digs in the victory.
In the final match of Empire 8 conference play for the 2007 season the Ducks took down the Pioneers of Utica. Volk registered a team high 11 kills with three digs and a pair of blocks, while senior outside hitter Dawn Herring totaled four kills and three digs. Freshman setter Sara Budar accumulated 14 assists while Rhode led with 15. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Johnson recorded four kills and a pair of aces as Hamilton added three blocks and four kills.
Freshman outside hitter Sarah Byrne posted three kills, three aces and a team high 10 digs, while junior middle blocker Bethany Rankie added four kills and four blocks. Freshman right-side hitter Maggie Majcher finished with four kills in the win.
The Ducks return to action Friday, October 26 as they travel to Whitewater, Wis. to take on two nationally ranked opponents in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Tournament. Stevens opens up play against Simpson College at 1 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. start against No. 8 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Saturday the Ducks are slotted to face off against No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh as they close out the weekend with Lakeland College with a 3 p.m. start.
