HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 27, 2017)  – Senior Emily Singleton set a new career-high with 15 kills, but the Stevens Institute of Technology fell to Vassar College 3-1 (23-25, 22-25, 26-24, 23-25) Wednesday night in a non-conference match. 

Junior Emily Piekarski recorded her first career double-double with 10 kills and a career-high 17 digs and sophomore Shelby Stewart had eight blocks for the Ducks, who saw their 13-game winning streak come to an end.

Devan Gallagher led all players with a career-high 28 kills and Jane McLeod added 20 for the Brewers, who improved to 11-3 on the season. Vassar won in Hoboken for the first time since October 5, 2011. The Brewers notched their third straight win. Gallagher entered the match fourth in the country in kills per set (4.93).

Volleys and Points

• Consecutive kills by Piekarski and Singleton opened the match scoring.
• The teams set the tone for the match, trading spurts. The largest lead of the opening set was a 9-5 lead for Stevens after a Sydni Horner ace and a Piekarski kill.
• Two Vassar runs led to a 19-16 lead for the guests, but the Ducks scored the next three points to tie the set.
• The teams would tie three more times, but Vassar took advantage of three Stevens attack errors to score four of the last five points of the frame to take a 1-0 lead.
• Despite the slim final margin, after a Lauren Ninkovich service error drew Stevens to within 6-5, Vassar scored six straight points to take control of the set at 12-5. The Brewers would hold the lead for the remainder of the set.
• A five-point run drew Stevens to within one at 22-21, with Stewart recording a kill and a pair of blocks to lead the charge.
• After a Vassar timeout, the Brewers scored three of the final four points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Stevens got on the board in the third set, fighting off match point to do so.
• As was the tone in the match, the teams traded points, combining for 14 ties and neither team led by more than three points.
• With Vassar leading 24-23, sophomore middle Sara Hain put down a Julie Greco set to tie the set. Piekarski sealed the frame with consecutive kills. 
• Needing a fourth-set victory to tie the match, Stevens came out firing on all cylinders, scoring five straight points to open play, forcing a Vassar timeout. Stewart recorded a pair of aces, Singleton had a pair of kills, and Hain teamed with classmate Kristen Edmiston to block a Colette Cambey attack to account for the points.
• The timeout settled Vassar down as the Brewers went on a five-point run of their own to even the set.
• A varied attack and tight defense didn't allow either side to gain an edge until Vassar built a five-point lead at 20-15.
• The Ducks responded with eight of the next nine points to threaten a fifth set. Stewart notched a pair of kills and Piekarski had two aces to spark the run.
• Vassar quickly responded to the Stevens push, with Jane McLeod converting an Annie MacMillan set to return the serve to the guests. McMillian finished with a match-high 49 assists.
• Vassar would score the next three points to earn the victory.

Match Point

• After a long rally, Devan Gallagher put down a MacMillan set to close the match.

Inside the Numbers

• A close, back-and-forth match for all four sets, the teams were separated by two points in three of the four sets.
• Despite the final score, Stevens outhit Vassar, .184-.169.
• Vassar held the edge in aces and assists. Stevens totaled more blocks and digs.
• The teams combined for 133 digs. Horner led Stevens with 25.
• Sophomore setter Julie Greco led Stevens with 43 assists, matching her second-highest total of the season.
• Stewart matched her career-high with three service aces. The effort brought the Powell, Ohio native's season total to 18. Stewart did not record an ace as a freshman.

Coach Speak

• "We faced a strong Vassar team tonight that had clearly prepared for us well. Congrats to them on a tough win."
• "We fought hard to push a fourth set and I'm proud of how we played until the last ball dropped."

Unsung Heroes

• "Emily Singleton once again produced well on offense. We had a sense of confidence with her that she was going to find holes in Vassar's defense."
• "[Shelby Stewart] also adjusted well to Vassar's offensive threats and delivered some monster blocks when we needed the momentum."

Up Next

• The Ducks return to the court for a pair of non-conference matches at the Wesleyan Tri-Match. The Ducks will take on Amherst College in the opener and close with a match with the hosts.
• Live stats and video will be available for the Wesleyan match only. Live stats only will be available for the Amherst match.

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