SWARTHMORE, Pa. (September 15, 2007) – Junior setter/right-side hitter Melissa Rhode led the 22nd- ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team to a pair of victories over Salisbury University and Cabrini College earlier today in the Swarthmore College Garnet Classic in Swarthmore, Pa. Rhode registered 11 kills, 21 digs and 22 assists as she earned her fourth triple-double of the year.

In the first match of pool play Stevens took down Salisbury in a well fought battle of five games (27-30, 30-26, 25-30, 30-15, 15-7). Senior outside hitter Dawn Herring posted 16 kills and six digs, while junior outside hitter Melanie Volk recorded 15 kills and four blocks. The Ducks received a strong showing from junior middle blockers' Jess Gardner and Alexa Bianchi. Gardner had seven kills and seven blocks, while Bianchi registered two kills and four blocks. Freshmen Julia Reilly and Kaitlyn Taylor chipped in with 27 digs and 15 assists, respectively. 

In the second match of pool play Stevens swept Cabrini in three games by scores of 30-24, 30-9 and 30-14. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Johnson led the Ducks with 10 kills, as freshman right-side hitter Maggie Majcher accumulated six kills and two blocks.

Stevens will return to play tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the championship pool as they take on the Garnets of Swarthmore. With a potential win, the Ducks could face the winner of Frostburg State University and Salisbury in the final championship match. Frostburg qualified for the championship round by defeating Swarthmore in three rounds before losing three to Rutgers-Newark University. Besides the loss to Stevens, Salisbury defeated Cabrini in three games to advance to the championship pool.