Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
NEW YORK, N.Y. (October 26, 2012) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team split a pair of matches at the New York State Challenge hosted by New York University on Saturday. Stevens topped the College of Mount St. Vincent in the opener but lost to Clarkson University in the nightcap.

For the first time this season, Stevens leveled its record at .500 after starting 0-9 on the season in the sweep of the Dolphins. The Ducks defeated Mount St. Vincent, 25-17, 25-18, 25-13, in the opener for their sixth-straight win of the season. In the nightcap, the Golden Knights took down Stevens, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21.


Senior opposite hitter Maggie Kowalska (Edison, N.J.) broke the Stevens all-time points record after totaling 39 on the evening for a total of 1,097.5 in her career. Kowalska surpassed the record of 1,892 in the setback to Clarkson.

In that same match, junior setter Samantha Gates (Wilmington, N.C.) eclipsed 1,000 assists in a season to become just the fourth player to do so in Stevens' history. Gates handed out 33 helpers in the nightcap for 1,027 on the year.

Match One: Stevens 3, Mount St. Vincent 0

In the straight-sets win over the Dolphins, Kowalska moved to with 2.5 career points of the all-time record with 21 in the match on 18 kills and three service aces. Kowalska hit an even .500 in the contest to go along with 13 digs to lead all players in both categories. She will surpass the mark of 1,892 against the Knights later this evening.

Freshman setter Catie Shelton (Central Square, N.Y.) dished out a team-best 34 assists and added six digs and two aces. Sophomore middle hitter Katie Hall (Midlothian, Va.) eclipsed double-digit kills with 11, while junior setter Samantha Gates (Wilmington, N.C.) tallied six digs and four aces.

The duo of liberos, junior Hannah Gasper (Bourne, Mass.) and sophomore Kirsten Salmins (Wyckoff, N.J.) combined for 14 digs. Gasper registered nine, while Salmins added five.

In the match, Stevens accumulated an impressive 17 services aces, while 13 coming in the first two sets.

Match Two: Clarkson 3, Stevens 0

Kowalska moved to the top of the list with 18 points in the match on 15 kills and also recorded nine digs with four blocks. Gates sat just six assists away entering the match and is now in fourth on the single-season list. She also added five digs.

Caulson and Hall combined for 15 kills and seven digs. Hall hit at a .421 percentage, while Caulson collected all seven digs.

Senior middle blocker Jillian Barrett (Philadelphia, Pa.) chipped in four digs and two blocks. Gasper tallied the only double-digit digs performance with 10 against Clarkson.

Stevens will take on the University of Rochester and former Empire 8 Conference member Rochester Institute of Technology at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m, respectively tomorrow to wrap up the regular season. The following weekend, the Ducks travel to Elmira College as the No. 2 seed in the Empire 8 Championship on November 3 and 4.