Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
UTICA, N.Y. (October 20, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team defeated St. John Fisher College and Nazareth College at the final Empire 8 Conference Crossover in Utica, N.Y. on Saturday to improve to 13-15 (6-1) on the season. With the win, Stevens secured the second seed in the upcoming Empire 8 tournament on November 3 and 4.

Match One: Stevens 3, St. John Fisher 1

In the four-set win over the Cardinals, 25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 25-13, senior opposite hitter Maggie Kowalska (Edison, N.J.) led the Ducks with 15 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Kowalska also tallied five digs, three blocks and two aces.

Junior setter Samantha Gates (Wilmington, N.C.) handed out a team-best 39 assists to go along with 12 digs, four aces and four blocks. Fellow junior outside hitter Mary Caulson (West Islip, N.Y.) eclipsed double-digit kills with 10 and also added seven digs.

Freshman setter Catie Shelton (Central Square, N.Y.) recorded 11 digs, while sophomore middle hitter Katie Hall (Midlothian, Va.) and freshman outside hitter Annemarie Thomas (Durham, N.C.) each registered eight kills. Hall also chipped in five blocks and three aces.

Match Two: Stevens 3, Nazareth 2

The Ducks took care of Nazareth in five sets, 20-25, 25-19, 25-15, 21-25, 15-13, to lock of the No. 2 spot in the tournament, as Kowalska posted a match-high 23 kills and hit at a .362 clip. She would also tally nine digs, five aces and three blocks.

Gates dished out 41 assists in the win and totaled eight digs, three kills and three aces. Caulson continued her evening with eight kills and five digs.

Thomas and Hall combined for 13 kills and four digs, with Thomas taking all four digs to her credit. They split the kills mark with seven and six a piece, respectively.

Senior middle hitter Jillian Barrett (Philadelphia, Pa.) added four kills for the Ducks.

Stevens takes on Utica College at 12 p.m. on Sunday to wrap up conference play before the final tournament in New York City on October 26 and 27.