Byrne Keys Pair Of Women's Volleyball Wins

10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (October 31, 2009) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team rebounded from a 0-2 start at the Vassar College Tournament in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. with a pair of wins in the tournament's second and final day of competition. The Ducks defeated Sage Colleges, 3-1 (25-7, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17) in its first match before downing host Vassar 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17) in the afternoon session. Stevens closes out its regular season with a 24-9 overall record and a perfect 8-0 league ledger.

Junior outside hitter Sarah Byrne continues to impress in her third season on the Hudson, tallying 26 kills and 19 digs in Stevens' two matches en route to all-tournament honors. Freshman counterpart Maggie Kowalska added 20 kills and five blocks, while fellow newcomer Brittany Fuller finished with 18 kills and seven blocks on the day. Junior setter Sara Budar had 78 assists while directing the Ducks' attack, while junior libero Julia Reilly collected 23 digs in defense.

Stevens will play host to the 2009 Empire 8 women's volleyball championships on Saturday, November 7. The tournament's semifinal matches featuring the top-seeded Ducks and No. 4 St. John Fisher College and No. 2 Nazareth and No. 3 Ithaca are slated for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively, with the championship match scheduled for 7 p.m.

Stevens 3, Sage Colleges 1 (25-17, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17)
After dropping the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-20, Sage battled back to capture a hard-fought third set, 23-25. The Ducks would finish off the Gators in the fourth and final set with a 25-17 victory. Byrne finished with 13 kills and 11 digs, while junior Maggie Majcher added 11 kills and seven digs. Kowalska and Fuller combined for 18 kills and five blocks, while junior Brittany Conroy had 10 digs and two service aces. Reilly added a team-high 12 kills in the win, while Budar totaled 39 assists and nine digs.

Sage junior middle hitter Nicole Corbett (East Greenbush, N.Y.) had 11 kills and three blocks to lead the Gators, while senior Kellie Jones (Troy, N.Y.) and junior Sarah Peacock (Duanesburg, N.Y.) added six and five kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Kristyn Buoninconte (Shelton, Conn.) finished with 24 assists, while sophomore libero Kelsey Wilson (Schenectady, N.Y.) had a team-high 14 digs.

Stevens 3, Vassar 0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-17)
Stevens, which downed Vassar, 3-1, in its Dig Pink event in Canavan Arena earlier this season, swept the host Brewers to even their Vassar College Tournament record at 2-2. Byrne and Kowalska each finished with 13 kills, while Fuller added 10 kills and four blocks. Sophomore Amethyest Holder and Kate Janes and freshman Michelle Plotzker combined for 13 kills of their own, while sophomore Trish DuFord put forth a 10-assist, 3-dig, 2-service ace effort. Reilly added 11 digs in the win, while Budar chipped in with 39 assists.

Brewers senior Tess Johnson (Henderson, Nev.) led the way for Vassar with eight kills, while junior Chelsea Mottern (Bound Brook, N.J.) had 12 digs. Freshman setter Hilary Koenigs (Spokane, Wash.) finished with 25 assists in the loss.
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