ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 22, 2007) – Junior setter/right-side hitter Melissa Rhode recorded her sixth triple-double of the season as the 23rd-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team defeated Nazareth College and Ithaca College in the opening weekend of the Empire 8 conference tournament in Rochester, N.Y. In the afternoon match-up the Ducks conquered the Bombers of Ithaca in four games (30-28, 26-30, 30-20 and 30-24) after having swept the Golden Flyers of Nazareth in three (36-24, 30-29 and 30-28).
Rhode registered 11 kills, 19 assists, 15 digs and three blocks in the win against Nazareth, while junior outside hitter Melanie Volk had 11 kills, three digs and a block. Junior middle blocker Jessica Gardner had an impact in the victory for the Ducks having posted 9 kills, four blocks and three service aces, as senior outside hitter Dawn Herring chipped in with 11 kills and 14 digs.
The Ducks received stellar performances from freshmen Kaitlyn Taylor, Julia Reilly and Maggie Majcher. Taylor collected 23 assists and 13 digs, while Reilly added 24 digs as Majcher finished with six kills and a pair of digs.
After losing the second game in the match against Ithaca (26-30), the Ducks bounced back to with the consecutive two by the scores of 30-20 and 30-24. Rhode led the team in kills with 19, while having posted 28 assists, 13 digs and four blocks to record her second triple-double of the day. Gardner and Volk each tallied 13 kills, while Gardner posted 10 digs and five blocks as Volk added 20 digs and a pair of blocks.
Taylor had a season high 32 assists with seven digs, while Herring amassed 11 kills and 19 digs. Junior middle blocker Summer Hamilton registered eight kills and three blocks, as Taylor reported 26 digs. Majcher chipped in with six kills and three blocks to seal the win.
The Ducks currently stand 2-0 in the conference and move to 13-1 on the year. Stevens will return to play tomorrow at 10 a.m. as they face the Hawks of Hartwick College in the third match of the debut weekend of the Empire 8 conference tournament in Rochester, N.Y. The Ducks are scheduled to face Rochester Institute of Technology later at 3 p.m.
