HAVERFORD, Pa. (September 5, 2009) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team, which began the day with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 25-14) loss to No. 24 Haverford College, rebounded from its setback against the Fords with a closely-contested 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 15-25, 25-15, 15-9) victory over St. Mary's College of Maryland in its final match at the Haverford Tournament in Haverford, Pa.
Junior outside hitter Sarah Byrne finished with 24 kills and 31 digs on the afternoon, while fellow junior outside hitter Maggie Majcher tallied 25 kills and 25 digs. Freshman Maggie Kowalska collected 23 kills in two matches, while junior setter Sara Budar totaled 74 assists while directing the Stevens offense.
Byrne and Kowalska both earned All-Tournament accolades for their efforts, with Byrne finishing with 57 kills and 50 digs through four matches, while Kowalska tallied 37 kills during tournament play.
Stevens returns to the court on September 11 and 12 when it travels to Colorado Springs, Colo. for the Colorado College Tournament. The Ducks open up tournament play against No. 19 University of Puget Sound and tournament host No. 18 Colorado College on September 11 before squaring off against McMurry University and Keuka College on September 12.
Stevens 3, St. Mary's (Md.) 2 (25-23, 17-25, 15-25, 25-15, 15-9)
After a tough loss to No. 24 Haverford, the Ducks found a way to rebound in its second match of the day, earning a 3-2 victory over St. Mary's College of Maryland. Following a closely contested 25-23 victory in the first set, the Ducks dropped the next two to the Seahawks, 25-17 and 25-15. Stevens would then stave off defeat with a 25-15 in the fourth set, before putting St. Mary's (Md.) away, 15-9, in the fifth and final set.
Byrne finished with 16 kills and 23 digs, while Majcher added 12 kills and 18 digs in the win, with Kowalska amassing 12 kills and three blocks. Budar added 39 assists to season total, while junior libero Julia Reilly finished with 20 digs while helping to anchor the Stevens defense. Senior Laura Johnson and newcomer Brittany Fuller each finished with four kills apiece, as Fuller upped her team-high blocks total to 28 with two blocks.
No. 24 Haverford 3, Stevens 1 (25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 25-14)
Despite a team-high 13 kills by Majcher, the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team fell to No. 24 Haverford College, 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 25-14). The Ducks, who close out play at the Haverford Tournament with a match against St. Mary's College of Maryland beginning at 1 p.m., are now 3-2 on the season, while the Fords remained a perfect at 4-0.
Tied 6-6 in the third set after dropping the first two to the Fords, Byrne broke the deadlock with her eighth kill of the afternoon, sparking an 11-1 Ducks' run that gave Stevens a 17-7 advantage. Majcher and Fuller each tallied three kills during the Ducks' crucial run, while freshman Michelle Plotzker's (Fairport, N.Y.) third kill of the match gave Stevens the set, 25-16.
Haverford would take an 8-4 lead in the fourth and final set following back-to-back service aces by sophomore setter Kate Comey (McLean, Va.). The Fords would build off Comey's aces, mounting a 12-3 run to wrestle control of the set, capped off by a junior outside hitter Kelsey Cantwell (Newport News, Va.) that made it 20-7. Haverford would maintain their lead down the stretch, closing out the match and taking the fourth set by a score of 25-14.
Byrne finished with 10 kills and eight digs in the loss, while Kowalska tallied 11 kills and five digs. Budar tallied 37 assists and 12 digs in a losing effort.
Senior outside hitter Rachel Salvo (La Canada, Calif.) paced the Fords offensively, with a match-high 17 kills, while Cantwell added 14 kills. Comey collected 46 assists in the win.
