HUNTINGDON, Pa. (August 30, 2008) – The 17th-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team opened the 2008 season with a trip to Hintingdon, Pa. to compete in the Juniata College Tournament on Saturday. The Ducks dropped a pair of matches to Salisbury University and No. 1 Juniata by the scores of 0-3 and 1-3, respectively. The inability to get an offense rolling and being heavily out blocked in both matches resulted in the downfall of the Ducks as they fall to 0-2 on the year.
Stevens started the day against the Seagulls (1-1) and fell by the scores of 23-25, 16-25 and 16-25. Salisbury out blocked the Ducks six and a half to three total blocks. The Seagulls were led by sophomore outside hitter Rachel Downes (Salisbury, Md.), who posted nine kills with an attacking percentage of 0.562. Sophomore middle hitter Nicole Massarelli (Clarksville, Md.) landed six kills and no attacking errors for a 0.545 hitting percentage on 11 attempts. Junior setter Jaime Marzocchi (Harrington Park, N.J.) dished for 23 assists and added 11 digs. Defensively for Salisbury, sophomore libero Gabby Long (Bel Air, Md.) chipped in with 10 digs as senior outside hitter Jessica Powell (Salisbury, Md.) led the team with three and half total blocks.
The Ducks were led by sophomores Sarah Byrne and Maggie Majcher Byrne accumulated eight kills and 11 digs, while Majcher registered eight kills. Senior right-side hitter Melissa Rhode led the Ducks in assists as she connected 11 times. Senior outside hitter Melanie Volk notched six kills, while senior middle hitter Jessica Gardner added a pair of service aces and two total blocks.
In the afternoon match up against the Eagles, Stevens was upended by the scores of 25-22, 16-25, 14-25 and 17-25. The Ducks were once again out blocked, this time by a three to nine count. Senior outside hitter Amber Thomas (Ephrata, Pa.) led the Eagles in kills (13), while sophomore setter Steph Strauss (Penn Hills, Pa.) was the top assist leader with 21. Junior opposite hitter Paige Johnston (Lancaster, Pa.) tallied eight kills with a 0.333 hitting percentage (three errors, 15 attempts). Junior outside hitter Michelle Morchesky (Greensburg, Pa.) had 10 kills, while senior libero Jessica Ritchey (Greencastle, Pa.) added three aces and 11 digs. Junior libero Megan Sollenberger (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) had a solid outing as she led the team in both digs (16) and aces (four).
Stevens came out strong in the first game but it was Juniata all the way after that. Senior middle blocker Summer Hamilton notched seven kills, while Majcher and Byrne each posted six. Rhode led in assists as she dished for 22 and added an ace. Byrne and Volk led the team defensively with 10 digs apiece.
On September 3 the Ducks travel to Jersey City, N.J. to take on the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University. Match time is scheduled for a 7 p.m.
