Live Stats | Live Video | Regional Tournament Webpage | Preview Video with senior libero Sydni Horner

POTSDAM, N.Y. (November 9, 2017)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team begins play in the 2017 NCAA Tournament with an opening-round match Friday afternoon with the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the Potsdam Regional, hosted by Clarkson University.

The Ducks are the second seed in the region after posting a 26-7 record and winning the Empire 8 Conference's automatic bid with a 3-0 sweep of Nazareth in the championship match. The team is making their 10th appearance in the tournament and second in as many years. 

Awards Season
Sophomore Casey King was named Empire 8 co-Player of the Year and senior libero Sydni Horner was named Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year for the third consecutive season Tuesday. Sophomore Shelby Stewart joined the pair on the league's All-First Team. Sophomores Julie Greco and Taleen Mitchell were named to the E8's Second Team and sophomore Sara Hain received an honorable mention. First-year head coach Annie McShea and staff were also recognized by the Empire 8 as its Staff of the Year.

In addition to the conference accolades, Greco, King and Stewart were each named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-New York Region. It was the second career all-region honor for Stewart, while Greco and King made the team for the first time.

Straight Sets
In 2017, 18 of Stevens' 26 wins came in three sets. Over the four-year career of this year's senior class, 77 percent (88 out of 114) of the team's victories were of the three-set variety.

Statistically Speaking
Stevens ranks among the top-50 programs in assists per set (50 - 11.87), blocks (47 - 1.92), hitting percentage (24 - 0.235) and opponent's hitting percentage (0.109).

Individually, Greco ranks 42nd in the country in assists per set (9.78) and Stewart is 12th in blocks per set (1.15) and tied for ninth in total blocks (123).

Seeing Double
Four different players have recorded double-doubles for Stevens. King leads the way with 11, Mitchell and Greco each have seven and junior Emily Piekarski recorded her first career double-double against Potsdam Regional participant, Vassar College.

Commitment to Excellence
Horner, who set the program and conference record for career digs (2,572 and counting), was the only player on the roster to appear in all 113 sets. Horner has appeared in 489 of a possible 497 sets over her four-year career.

Meeting Merchant Marine Academy
The Mariners make their fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Skyline Conference's automatic bid. The Ducks have faced Merchant Marine three times since 2002, with the Ducks sweeping all three matches. The teams last met October 10, 2007 in Kings Point, New York. Then-freshman Sarah Byrne recorded 12 kills and seven digs to lead the offense as the Ducks kept USMMA under 20 points in two of the three sets. 

Senior Dominique Pope and sophomore Kyleigh Kappas were both selected First Team All-Skyline Conference. Junior Kate Lefler was named to the league's Second Team. Pope was among the conference leaders in kills per set, aces per set and hitting percentage. The senior was named the conference tournament's Most Outstanding Player. 

Kappas led the Skyline in assists per set and has received all-league accolades in both of her seasons in Kings Park. The setter also ranks third on the team in digs per set.

The Mariners, who finished the year 17-7 and 8-2 in Skyline Conference play, are making their first tournament appearance since 2001. Merchant Marine has never won an NCAA Tournament game.

Looking Ahead
On the other side of the bracket, hosting Clarkson will be taking on first-time NCAA participant Morrisville State, who received the Northeastern Athletic Conference's automatic bid. The Golden Knights were the top seed in the region and earned the right to host the regional by winning the Liberty League championship.

In the 4-5 match, Vassar takes on Babson College. Both teams received an at-large bid to the tournament, although Vassar spent much of the season atop the regional rankings.

Up Next: Should the Ducks advance, Stevens will face the winner of the Ithaca-Endicott matchup. The regional semifinal matchup would take place Saturday, November 11 at 2:30 p.m. 

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