HOBOKEN, N.J. (August 28, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team will get its 2014 season underway tomorrow afternoon, August 29, at 4 p.m. in Salisbury, Md. as part of a four-match, two-day tournament hosted by Salisbury University.

Stevens is coming off a terrific turnaround season in 2013, where the Ducks posted 27 victories and won the Empire 8 Conference regular season title with a 7-0 record. The Ducks improved their record by 10.5 matches after a 17-18 campaign in 2012 and reached the Empire 8 Final for the second consecutive season.

There are a possible 36 matches on the slate this fall and 16 of those take place in Canavan Arena. Stevens also has 12 NCAA participating schools from a year ago on the schedule. The Ducks will host a tri-match on September 13, an Empire 8 Crossover on the 20th, the Stevens Invitational on the 26th and 27th, and the NYS Regional Challenge on October 31-November 1. Stevens will also play four single matches on its home floor (September 3, October 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15). More information is available on the full schedule release.

This year's Ducks have a great mix experience and youth which prompted Head Coach Glenn DeHaven to say that "this is the deepest team, talent wise, that I've ever coached. With the team we have, our main focus this year is to win the Empire 8 tournament since we have reached the finals each of the past two seasons."

DeHaven also welcomes Simon Loftus to the bench this fall after Loftus spent the spring as a men's volleyball assistant at Stevens. He helped the men's team to a 22-10 overall ledger and a trip to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. At the conclusion of the spring, Loftus was named AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

Five starters from the 27-7 team a year ago return for 2014, including Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and first-teamer Mary Tobin (Boothwyn, Pa.) and Defensive Specialist/Libero of the Year Kirsten Salmins (Wyckoff, N.J.). Tobin ranked second on the team last year in points with 355.5 and was tops on the squad with 325 kills in 107 sets played. Salmins ranked among the national leaders in dig per set at 5.68 and finished the season with 670 digs.

Senior Katie Hall (Midlothian, Va.) is coming off a 358-point season in 2013 that landed her on the Empire 8 Second-Team. Hall led the Ducks offensively in points, blocks (91) and her .247 hitting percentage was also tops on the team. Sophomore Christina Sciarra (Montclair, N.J.) was a second-team performer last year and tallied 324 points on 294 kills, 53 total blocks and one service ace.

Junior Annemarie Thomas (Durham, N.C.) contributed 205.5 points in 123 sets played last fall and will be looked upon this season as a main offensive option. Senior Ashley Castillo (Cresskill, N.Y.) will be Stevens' primary setter and handed out 78 assists in 2013.

Junior Catie Shelton (Central Square, N.Y.) will see significant playing time as a defensive specialist this year and could rotate in as a setter. Shelton played in 119 sets last season and amassed 246 digs with 36 aces.

Also back for the Ducks are juniors Kristen Herchenroder (Breezy Point, N.Y.), Alanna Zappariello (Buena, N.J.) and Sarah LeClerc (Fairfield, Conn.) and sophomores Jovanna Manzari (Cornwall, N.J.), Becca Youngman (Rochester, N.Y.) and Kristen MacDonald (Kinnelon, N.J.). Sophomore Karolina Konior (Elmwood Park, N.J.) is a new addition to the team but played in the spring.

DeHaven has brought in four freshmen that will all compete for playing time throughout the three-month grind and have already made an impact on this team during preseason.

The newcomers for Stevens this year are Emilee Erickson (Wildwood, Ill.), Brianna Evans (Spokane, Wash.), Sydni Horner (Columbia, Md.) and Mckenzie Kingsbury (San Diego, Calif.).

Erickson is a 5-foot, 7-inch well-rounded defensive specialist/libero that brings a wealth of experience to the team after playing against highly competitive club teams in Illinois.

Evans is an outside at 5-9 that possesses a lot of raw athletic ability. She was an all-state honoree in Washington.

Horner measures out at 5-8 and could see time as a libero or outside hitter. She brings a lot of athleticism to the Ducks and was a competitive jump roper in Maryland.

Kingsbury comes to Hoboken from San Diego and adds much needed depth in the middle of the floor as a 5-foot, 10-inch blocker.

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