HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 14, 2011) – In the home-opener of the 2011 season for the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team, the Ducks dropped a 3-1 decision to the visitors from Haverford College, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 23-25. The Ducks are now 5-6 on the season while the Fords improve to 3-6.

In the first set, Stevens found itself down, 8-3, but a kill and block by sophomore Chrissy Dickinson and back-to-back kills by senior Andrea Bucko brought the score to 8-7. Haverford then went on a 9-3 run to increase its lead to 17-10. The Ducks brought it to within five points after a block by senior Kate Janes, but the Fords went on a three-point run to blow the lead back out to eight. From there, the Ducks were never able to get the score closer than three points, 24-21, and eventually dropped the set on a service error.

Dickinson turned in a solid match with six kills and six blocks, while Janes posted six kills, four blocks and a team-high eight digs.

Bucko distributed the ball well amongst the Ducks hitters with 28 assists. She also recorded five kills and three blocks.

Stevens seemed to find its stride in set two, never giving up the lead, and held multiple six-point advantages throughout the set. Junior Maggie Kowalska paced the Ducks in set two with three kills and three total blocks.

For the match, Kowalska led Stevens with 15 kills. She also talled seven digs, five total blocks and three service aces.

In a back-and-fourth third set, which saw the Ducks fall on another service error, neither team held more than a one-point advantage until after Stevens took a 7-5 lead. Haverford answered right back with two points of its own to tie the match at 7, then added three more points to go up, 10-7. From that point, the Ducks were never able to get within more than two points and dropped the third set, 25-22.

In the final set, Steven dug itself into an 11-0 hole to start. After Kowalska and Janes combined on a block for the Ducks first point, they went on a 15-9 run to bring the set to within 19-16. Stevens then tied the set up at 22 with a combined block by Bucko and Dickinson and again at 23, but two consecutive kills by the Fords ended the night.

Sophomores Mary Caulson and Mikayla Floyd each chipped in well for the Ducks. Caulson tallied seven kills, six digs and three aces, while Floyd helped out with seven digs, five kills and four aces.

The Ducks are back in Canavan Arena this weekend for the Ducks Classic on Friday and Saturday. Stevens will take on SUNY Oneonta and FDU-Florham on the 16th, then entertain Franklin College and Elmira College on the 17th.