POUGHKEEPSIE N.Y. (November 1, 2008) – Senior outside hitter Melanie Volk totaled 20 kills, 14 digs and a block en route to being tabbed the Most Valuable Player of the Vassar College Tournament as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team swept the field having defeated SUNY New Paltz and Vassar on the final day of the tournament. The Ducks closed out regular-season play with an overall mark of 30-4. Stevens bounced back from an 0-2 start of the season to tally 30 wins for the fourth-straight year.
The Ducks started the day with a 3-0 win (25-15, 25-13, 25-22) over regionally ranked SUNY New Paltz. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Byrne had a team-high 12 kills and added 14 digs and four blocks. Volk was close behind as she landed 11 kills, nine digs and a block as sophomore libero Julia Reilly led defensively with 17 digs. Senior middle blocker Summer Hamilton tallied five kills and three blocks, while sophomore right-side hitter Maggie Majcher chipped in with four kills and a block assist. Sophomore setter Sara Budar led the team in assists as she dished out 20 and added seven digs. Senior right-side hitter Melissa Rhode was stellar as she connected on 18 assists, lifted 10 digs and landed seven kills. Senior middle blocker Bethany Rankie chipped in with two kills and a pair of blocks.
In their final regular-season match, the Ducks took down the host Brewers in three straight (25-20, 25-13, 25-11). Volk led in kills (nine) and notched five digs. Byrne had seven kills and four digs as Hamilton recorded six kills. Senior middle blocker Jessica Gardner tallied four kills and four blocks, while Reilly launched a pair of service aces and added six digs. Rhode was once again solid with her 17 assists, eight digs, three kills and three aces. Rankie finished with two kills and two blocks as sophomore libero Brittany Conroy chipped in with five digs. Freshman outside hitter Kate Janes accumulated four kills, four digs and a pair of aces.
“We were happy with our performance this weekend,” said Head Coach J.J. O'Connell. “The competition was tough and it was a nice tune-up heading into the Empire 8 Championship this weekend.”
Stevens will host this year's Empire 8 Championship as the No. 1 seed and will take on fourth-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology next Saturday at noon. Catch the action live at www.Empire8.tv.
