HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 11, 2008) – Senior outside hitter Melanie Volk helped to rally the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team to its 19th win of the season when the Ducks game back from a two-game deficit to take down No. 24 Haverford College on Saturday afternoon in Hoboken, N.J. There was much to celebrate as the program honored its talented senior class, in addition to running a charity event; “Dig for the Cure,” in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The Ducks battled back to take the fifth deciding set as the scores read, 23-25, 23-25, 25-12, 25-11, 15-13.
After coming out early in both sets one and two, the Ducks could not keep the flow going as they dropped both games and was trailing two sets to none. Ahead 10-4 in the third set, the Ducks went on a 7-2 run as sophomore libero Brittany Conroy was called upon to provide some effective serving off the bench. That is exactly what she did as Stevens controlled possession and Volk landed a pair of kills in the run. With the score 20-11 in favor of the Ducks, Volk took position behind the serving line as she rallied off four in a row to help Stevens increase its lead and eventually close out the game.
Still trailing 2-1 in the match, Stevens took a commanding lead early as the score read 12-1 in favor of the host. Strong serving for the Ducks was the deciding factor in the fourth set. Sophomore libero Julia Reilly controlled the ball for the first six points registered by Stevens. Senior right-side hitter Melissa Rhode followed suit as the team posted six more points with Rhode serving. Ahead 20-7, Rhode landed a kill followed by senior middle blocker Jessica Gardner to bring the Ducks three points away from sending it to a fifth set. Consecutive kills by senior middle blocker Summer Hamilton and Volk closed out the set to knot the match at 2-2 heading into the final game.
The start of Game 5 looked as if the Fords were back to form as they jumped ahead 4-0. A bad set by junior outside hitter Rachel Salvo (La Canada, Calif.) gave the Ducks possession and their first point of the game. Stevens went on a 3-0 run to bring the contest to a 4-4 deadlock as sophomore outside hitter Sarah Byrne recorded three-straight kills. It was back and forth till the Ducks led 7-6 before the switch. However a kill by Salvo and an attack error by Byrne gave Haverford a slight lead as teams swapped sides. Gardner led things off with a much needed kill to knot the game at 8-all. Sophomore right-side hitter Maggie Majcher landed her 12th kill of the match. A kill from Volk gave Stevens a two-point lead as the Fords took a timeout to talk things over. Stevens kept its momentum rolling as Volk tallied her 16th kill of the match. It was the Ducks all the way from there as seniors Volk and Rhode closed out the match, rightfully so having each notched a kill in the final three points posted.
Volk led with 17 kills as she produced a .341 hitting percentage on 41 attempts with only three errors. She added three block assists and 13 digs. Rhode dished out 28 assists and landed two aces, while Byrne recorded a double-double on 16 kills and 17 digs. Gardner posted a .400 hitting percentage as she put down six kills on 15 swings with no errors. She was dominate at the net having totaled two block solos and five block assists. Hamilton was stellar having accumulated six kills and four total blocks. Reilly led the team defensively having lofted 30 digs as she added to the offensive side laying down three aces. Sophomore setter Sara Budar connected on 22 assists and chipped in with two aces. As a team the Ducks produced a .341 hitting percentage, totaled 11 team blocks and lifted 94 digs.
Stevens will return to action on Wednesday when it takes on Hunter College at 6 p.m. in New York, N.Y.
