ITHACA, N.Y. (October 26, 2008) – Senior middle blocker Jessica Gardner produced a .429 hitting percentage with no errors on 21 swings as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team secured the No. 1 seed and will host this year's Empire 8 Championship with a 3-1 victory over Nazareth College Sunday afternoon in Ithaca, N.Y. With the win the Ducks have extended their Empire 8 all-time record to 18-0. Overall the Ducks are 26-4 with a 8-0 Empire 8 ledger in 2008.
11:45
The Ducks begin their routine warm-ups and go over strategies on how to take on the Golden Flyers.
12:30 p.m.
MATCH TIME - Senior outside hitter Melanie Volk back to serve.
Set 1
(5-5) Senior middle blocker Summer Hamilton and Volk come up big with a block to give Stevens possession and a point. Ducks ahead 9-8 sophomore libero Julia Reilly serving. Nazareth has put some pressure on Stevens, however sophomore outside hitter Sarah Byrne landed an ace to put the Ducks ahead 15-11. Head Coach Cal Wickens of Nazareth calls a timeout to talk things over.
Since the pep talk each team posted three points apiece as Stevens is still ahead 18-14. Ducks are now leading 22-17 as senior right-side hitter Melissa Rhode records her first ace of the set. Senior middle blocker Jessica Gardner came up with a huge block solo as the Ducks are at game point with Byrne back to serve (24-19). Some miscommunication on the Naz side up on the net allowed Stevens to take advantage and go up one set to none. Unofficial: Volk and Byrne had about three kills apiece in the set. Budar had around six assists while Gardner was close to four block assists.
Set 2
The Golden Flyers come out serving first. Stevens ahead 5-3 to open the set as Rhode is controlling the serve. Nazareth has taken its first lead of the match and is ahead 10-7 as Head Coach J.J. O'Connell burns a timeout. Ducks have battled back to tie it at 10-all behind the serving of Gardner. Each team is fighting back and forth for points as the set is knotted at 15-15 with Reilly is serving. Wickens takes some time to talk things over as sophomore right-side hitter Maggie Majcher buries a kill to give Stevens an 18-16 advantage.
Following the timeout, the Ducks grab a 21-17 lead after another kill by Majcher. Wickens burns his second timeout. Stevens ahead 24-19 as Budar comes into serve. Rhode finishes the set off with a kill as the Ducks go ahead two sets to none having taken Game 2 25-19. Unofficial: Byrne and Majcher had around five kills in the set, while Rhode led in assists with about seven. Volk had approximately four kills in the win.
Set 3
Volk starts the serving for Stevens. Ducks keep the momentum rolling as Reilly drills an ace to bring Stevens to a 5-2 advantage. Long volley just went in favor of the Golden Flyers - big confident booster as they wont go down quietly; Stevens ahead 10-9. FANS REMINDER: Hit F5 to refresh the page. Nazareth has battled back to take a four-point lead (14-10).
Following a timeout by Stevens, the Golden Flyers have gone on a 4-1 run to keep the lead at 18-11. Ducks not looking as good as before. O'Connell has gone to the bench to call on sophomore libero Brittany Conroy and junior outside hitter Laura Johnson. Naz now ahead 22-14. On the verge of game point - Golden Flyers on top 24-17. Ducks looked shocked as the Golden Flyers take Set 3 25-18. First time Stevens has dropped a set to a conference opponent in 14 matches which dates back to September 23, 2007 when Stevens gave up one set to Hartwick College. Unofficial: Volk had around four kills, Bryne about three, while Reilly led in digs with around six.
Set 4
Stevens starts out with a slight lead, 4-3. Ducks still ahead 8-7 but two consecutive swings into the net has hurt any momentum that Stevens would like to build. Wickens burns his first timeout of the set as Stevens went on a 3-0 run to go ahead 11-7. Nazareth is pressing hard however the Ducks still hold a 14-12 advantage. Each team just posted four points apiece as Volk drilled a kill to give Stevens a 19-16 lead. Its 21-18 in favor of the Ducks. Wickens takes his second timeout as Stevens is on top 23-18 and will have possession of the serve following the stoppage of play. A huge block at the net, what looked like it came off the arm of Gardner secured the Ducks a victory and moved their Empire 8 win streak to 17-straight matches. They will play Ithaca to wrap up league action at 3 p.m. Check back for the livestats link.
Official leaders for the Ducks: Byrne led with 11 kills and added 11 digs. Both Volk and Gardner tallied nine kills apiece as Volk lofted 22 digs and Gardner defended seven total blocks. Hamilton and Majcher each chipped in with five kills as Hamilton added three blocks. Rhode totaled 21 assists and landed three aces as Budar dished out 22 in the win.
Stevens def. Ithaca 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-19)
The Ducks finished regular-season conference-play with a 3-0 victory over Ithaca. With the win, Stevens has improved its all-time Empire 8 record to 18-0, including a pair of wins during last season's league championship. The Ducks used their momentum in the win over the Golden Flyers to dominate the Bombers as Ithaca totaled just 40 points in three sets played.
Byrne led the team in kills with nine as shed added three aces and four digs in the win. Volk accumulated eight kills, five aces and eight digs, while Johnson landed seven kills. She produced a .600 hitting percentage with only one ace on 10 attempts. Budar and Rhode combined for 28 assists as Budar dished out 15 and Rhode connected on 13. Reilly lifted eight digs in the victory.
Stevens will return to action on Friday at the Vassar College Invite in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Ducks will take on SUNY Fredonia and the University of Rochester as they return to the court on Saturday to battle SUNY New Paltz and Vassar College. Friday's matches are at 6 and 8 p.m., while Saturday features starts at noon and 2 p.m.
