HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 12, 2018) – Junior Taleen Mitchell and freshman Elizabeth Chu combined for 81 digs to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team to a split on the first day of the 2018 Stevens Invitational.
In the opener, Mitchell recorded her sixth double-double of the season and 13th of her career as the Ducks fell to the University of Scranton in five sets (20-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-13, 9-15).
In the final match of the evening, Chu totaled 30 digs as Stevens defeated Haverford College, 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-15).
The Ducks ended the night at 19-5.
The Scranton Royals were led by Kristin Kirwan, who registered a double-double with 20 kills and 12 digs. The Royals finished the night with a 16-12 record, including another five-set thrilling win over Stockton University.
Haverford fell to 7-14 on the year. The Fords return to action in Day Two of the Invitational against Stockton.
Volleys and Points (Scranton)
- The match began with three lead changes before the score was tied at 6-6.
- Scranton then went on a 3-0 run, where they distanced themselves from the Ducks, not allowing them to tie or take the lead again in the set.
- Freshman Corinne Dougherty ended the run with a kill to make the score 9-7.
- The Royals scored the next four out of five points, only allowing the Ducks to score on a service error.
- Stevens came within two points of Scranton, but the Royals finished the set on a miscue by the Ducks.
- Dougherty opened the second set with a kill.
- The Royals answered with a 5-0 run to take the lead.
- The Ducks delivered back-to-back kills from junior Shelby Stewart and Mitchell, followed by an ace from sophomore Jillian Roumbanis to bring Stevens within two points (9-7).
- Scranton scored the next six points to give themselves a nine point lead.
- Stevens, however, clawed back with a 7-0 run to tie the set at 23-23.
- A kill from the Royals' Megan Monastra followed by a Ducks' service error gave Scranton the win of the second set.
- The third set went point-for-point, featuring five lead changes.
- With Scranton in the lead 16-14, a Royals' ball handling error followed by a Roumbanis ace and kills from Mitchell and senior Brianna Perez gave the Ducks an 18-16 lead.
- The teams alternated points before Stevens scored the last three points to win the third set.
- Despite a kill from Scranton's Erin Boken, the Royals committed four attack errors to give Stevens a 5-1 lead to start the fourth set.
- Back-to-back Kirwan kills earned Scranton two points, but the short-lived run ended with a kill from freshman Terence Chan.
- The Ducks went on a 7-0 run after three kills, two aces and an attack error committed by the visitors to give them a 10 point lead (16-6).
- Four attack errors by the Royals put Stevens up 22-10.
- Two of Scranton's next three points were from kills, but it wasn't enough as Stevens sent the match to a deciding set.
- The teams alternated the first four points of the final set, before a ball handling error and an attack error by Scranton gave Stevens a 4-2 lead.
- The Royals scored the next four points to put them ahead, before kills from Chan and junior Kristen Edmiston tied the match 6-6.
- Scranton began to pull away, only allowing the Ducks to score three more points in the set.
Match Point (Scranton)
Volleys and Points (Haverford)
- Haverford opened the match with a kill by Dina Kosyagin and an ace by Elena Filograna.
- The Ducks mirrored the Fords and answered with a kill from Stewart and an ace from freshman Kathleen Riegner.
- With the Ducks up 9-7, Haverford scored five consecutive points to regain the lead.
- Stevens fought back to come within two points, but the Fords earned three points from service and attack errors before a Kosyagin kill ended the first set.
- Both teams went point-for-point to begin the second set.
- With the Fords up 7-6, Stevens went on a 4-0 run that consisted of kills from three different Ducks and an attack error from the opponent.
- Haverford kept themselves within two points, but junior Sara Hain delivered a kill to earn the Ducks the second set victory.
- Filograna opened the third set with a service ace before Mitchell answered with a kill.
- The third set saw eight lead changes, as the opponents alternated points for the majority of the set.
- With Stevens up 22-21, Haverford earned two points on a Kendall Robison kill and a Ducks attack error.
- The Ducks answered with three points to complete the set on-top.
- Back-to-back kills from Chan opened up the final set of the match.
- After a kill from Kosyagin brought the Fords within two points, the Ducks scored five consecutive points to make the score 17-10.
- Another 5-0 run by Stevens gave the Ducks a comfortable 24-13 lead.
- Despite two attack errors by the Ducks, Stevens scored the final point to finish the match.
Match Point (Haverford)
Inside the Numbers (Scranton)
- The Ducks held the edge in both blocks and digs.
- Chu led all players with 24 digs.
- Junior Shelby Stewart delivered six block assists for Stevens.
- Stevens' best set of the match came during the third, where the Ducks had a hitting percentage of .297.
- This close matchup delivered a similar number of assists on both sides (Scranton - 45; Stevens - 44).
- Stockton's Kindler Norman led all players with 40 assists on the night.
- The Ducks held Scranton to a negative hitting percentage in the fourth set.
- Chan led Stevens with a hitting percentage of .385, her career-best.
Inside the Numbers (Haverford)
- This balanced match saw equal numbers of blocks (9), assists (45) and digs (76) from each team.
- Haverford held the edge in kills (49-45), while the Ducks led in aces (8-6).
- Stewart led Stevens with a .412 hitting percentage.
- Reigner dished out a career-high 28 assists.
- Kosyagin led all players with 18 kills.
Unsung Hero
Up Next
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Snapchat: ducks_athletics
#AllRise
