HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 18, 2010) - The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team moved to 9-2 on the year with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-18) sweep of SUNY Oneonta and a 3-1 (18-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-18) come-from-behind victory over Swarthmore College at the 2010 Ducks Classic at Canavan Arena in Hoboken, N.J. With the win, Stevens moved to 4-0 in tournament play, but lost the championship tiebreaker to fellow unbeaten Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham, which dropped just one set in four matches.
Sophomore Maggie Kowalska tallied 19 kills, nine digs, and nine blocks in Stevens' two wins. In four Classic matches, the Edison, N.J. native averaged 2.60 kills and 1.40 blocks per set, while hitting .317 en route to Most Valuable Player Honors. Senior outside hitter Maggie Majcher, who also earned All-Tournament accolades, notched 16 kills and 20 digs on the afternoon, averaging 3.09 kills and 2.82 digs per set in the four Stevens' matches.
Freshman Chrissy Dickinson had 18 kills, 12 digs, and 11 blocks on the Ducks' pair of wins, while senior Sara Budar and freshman Samantha Gates had 35 and 26 assists, respectively. Senior libero Julia Reilly finished with 26 digs in defense.
The Ducks return to action on Wednesday, September 22 at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa.
2010 Ducks Classic Tournament Champion
Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham *
*Finished pool play 4-0 – tied with Stevens – but wins game-percentage tiebreaker
All-Tournament Team
Ducks Classic MVP: Maggie Kowalska (Stevens)
Lauren Brazier (FDU-Florham)
Chelsea Hoeffler (FDU-Florham)
Genny Pezzola (Swarthmore)
Danielle Sullivan (Swarthmore)
Kacy Boburka (Oneonta)
Maggie Majcher (Stevens)
Stephanie Warner (Richard Stockton)
Stevens 3, SUNY Oneonta 0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-18)
Down 20-14 in the first set, Stevens mounted an 8-0 run, taking the lead on a Budar ace that eventually led to a Red Dragon timeout. The Ducks continued to ride their momentum following the break, outscoring Oneonta, 3-2 down the stretch to complete their comeback bid, taking the first frame, 25-22.
In an effort to keep things rolling, the Ducks raced out to a 5-1 lead in the second set before a Stevens' service error trimmed the margin to three. The Ducks then mounted an 8-3 run to make it 13-4, forcing a Red Dragon stoppage, before opening up a 16-5 advantage. Stevens continued to apply the pressure, pushing set-point on a Gates tip over the front line, before finally putting Oneonta away, 25-13.
Trailing 3-1 in the third set, Stevens mounted a 5-0 rally to take a 6-3 edge. Oneonta would battle back, putting together a 5-2 run of its own to take an 8-7 lead, but the Ducks responded with back-to-back points to regain the advantage. Hoping to stay alive, down 13-11, Oneonta tallied three-consecutive scores to take a slim one-point margin, but a Majcher kill sparked a 5-0 Ducks' run that forced an Oneonta timeout. The Ducks would take a 23-17 lead on another Gates tip, before closing out the match, 25-18.
Dickinson and Kowalska each finished with a match-high 10 kills, with Kowalska adding four blocks. Budar and Gates combined for 26 assists, while Reilly had 10 digs in defense.
Sophomore outside hitter Kacy Boburka (Binghamton, N.Y.) notched eight kills to lead the Red Dragons' attack, while fellow sophomore Cassie Abdo (Manlius, N.Y.) and junior Stephanie Holt (Delanson, N.Y.) had four kills apiece. Sophomore Brittany Calvello (Gloversville, N.Y.) and senior Kelsey Klopfer (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) combined for 21 helpers, while junior Jessica Zerega (New City, N.Y.) had 12 digs.
Elmira 3, St. Joseph's (LI) 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-11)
Junior Brittany Raykoske (Johnstown, N.Y.) tallied 10 kills, three digs, and three blocks in the Soaring Eagles' sweep of St. Joseph's (LI), with sophomore outside hitter Sasha Zavadska (Bratislava, Slovakia) notching 10 kills and three blocks. Freshman Taryn Rumsey (Mansfield, Pa.) had eight kills and eight digs. Freshman outside hitter April Bennett (Hampton Bays, N.Y.) led the Golden Eagles in the loss, tallying four kills and a block.
FDU-Florham 3, Swarthmore 0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-19)
Devils' sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Hoeffler (Cranford, N.J.) paved the way to FDU-Florham's sweep of the Garnet, notching eight kills on 18 attempts, while also tallying 10 digs. Senior middle hitter Lauren Brazier (Stony Brook, N.Y.) continued her strong play during the classic, recording five kills and seven blocks.
Swarthmore senior Kathryn Montemurro (Bogota, N.J.) and junior Genny Pezzola (Oakland, Calif.) each tallied nine kills, while combining for 12 digs. Freshman outside hitter Maggie Duszyk (Wallingford, Pa.) had eight kills in a losing effort, while sophomore setter Allie Coleman (Palo Alto, Calif.) had 29 assists and four digs.
Richard Stockton 3, Elmira 2 (25-15, 25-15, 21-25, 22-25, 15-9
Junior outside hitter Christine Velott (Moorestown, N.J.) spearheaded the Ospreys' hard-fought, 3-2, win over the Soaring Eagles, notching 12 kills and 13 digs. Freshman counterpart Kasey Hennecke (Fair Lawn, N.J.) tallied 12 kills in the win, while Nicole Serekian (Mahwah, N.J.) had 10 kills, four blocks, three digs, and two assists.
Raykoske paced Elmira with 22 kills and four blocks, while Zavadska had 20 kills and 11 digs. Freshman outside hitter Alysha LaDuke (Livonia, N.Y.) had 13 kills, 14 digs, and three blocks, while senior setter Tesia Kaczynski (Mansfield, Pa.) dished out 46 helpers.
FDU-Florham 3, Oneonta 1 (27-29, 26-24, 25-21, 25-23)
Brazier once again keyed FDU-Florham in their comeback win over SUNY Oneonta, notching 12 kills and four blocks. Senior setter Kerry Kuperman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) chipped in with 26 assists and 10 digs. Boburka had 15 kills, six digs, and four blocks for the Red Dragons in the loss, while Calvello added 36 assists and 14 kills. Junior libero Jessica Zerega (New City, N.Y.) finished with 16 digs and a pair of service aces.
Richard Stockton 3, St. Joseph's (LI) 1 (25-13, 25-14, 25-11)
Hennecke led the charge for Richard Stockton in their sweep of the Golden Eagles, putting away 10 kills, while adding three digs. Junior middle hitter Tabitha Nejman (Runnemede, N.J.) finished with six kills, nine digs, and three blocks, while Velott tallied five kills, six digs, and a block. St. Joseph's (LI) Ashley Larrea (Medford, N.Y.) had nine kills for the Golden Eagles in the loss.
Stevens 3, Swarthmore 1 (18-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-18)
Kowalska and freshman Mikayla Floyd paved the way for the Ducks' comeback victory, tallying nine kills each. Majcher finished with eight kills and 15 digs, while Budar and Gates combined for 35 assists. Reilly finished with a match-high 16 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Danielle Sullivan (Orefield, Pa.) led the Garnet in the loss, notching nine kills. Montemurro added eight kills, while Coleman dished out 20 assists. Pezzola added a team-best 14 digs.
