Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

HOUGHTON, N.Y. (October 12, 2013) – Senior Samantha Gates (Wilmington, N.C.) of the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball set the career assists record at Stevens in an Empire 8 Conference split with Houghton College and Hartwick College on Saturday. The Ducks fell to Houghton, 3-1, but topped Hartwick in four sets to go 20-5 on the season.

Gates needed 61 assists heading into today's tri-match to tie the program record of 3,198 set by Sara Budar and dished out 85 combined in the two contests. The senior handed out 50 in the four-set loss to the Highlanders, 26-24, 12-25, 25-23, 25-23, and came back with 35 in the victory over the Hawks, 25-16, 25-17, 23-25, 25-10.

Houghton 3, Stevens 1

In the setback to Houghton, which does not go against conference standings since the Highlanders are still a provisional NCAA member, junior Kirsten Salmins (Wyckoff, N.J.) recorded a career-high 43 digs to lead all players. The 43 digs by Salmins also set a single-match record for the women's volleyball program.

Freshman Mary Tobin (Boothwyn, Pa.) paced the Ducks with 18 kills to go along with 12 digs, while Gates recorded 12 digs and three service aces as well. Classmate Christina Sciarra (Montclair, N.J.) posted 12 kills and a .211 hitting percentage.

Senior Mary Caulson (West Islip, N.Y.) added 11 digs and seven kills for Stevens, while junior Katie Hall (Midlothian, Va.) contributed 10 kills.

Sophomore Annemarie Thomas (Durham, N.C.) added eight kills and three blocks in the loss, while fellow sophomore Catie Shelton (Central Square, N.Y.) pitched in eight digs.

Stevens 3, Hartwick 1

In the victory over Hartwick, Salmins once again led all players with 28 digs. Sciarra registered a match-best 15 kills in 31 swings for a .387 hitting percentage, while Hall posted 10 more kills and hit .429.

Gates added nine digs in the win, while Thomas hit at a .500 clip with seven kills in 14 attempts. Caulson and sophomore Kristen Herchenroder (Breezy Point, N.Y.) each posted seven kills for the Ducks in the second match. Caulson chipped in seven digs, while Herchenroder added nine more.

The Ducks play Vassar College on October 16 at 7 p.m. for Senior Night in Canavan Arena. Stevens will then conclude the regular season with six road matches before hosting the Empire 8 Tournament on November 9 and 10.

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