BROOKLYN, N.Y. (September 5, 2018)  – Junior Taleen Mitchell matched a career high with 16 kills to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team to a sweep of New York University (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) Wednesday in a non-conference match at NYU's Brooklyn Athletic Facility.
 
Juniors Sara Hain and Shelby Stewart combined for 12 kills and five blocks for the Ducks, who improved to 1-2 on the season. The victory snapped NYU's season-opening two-match winning streak.

Maddie DeJong came off the bench to record a team-high six kills for NYU, who fell to 2-1.

Volleys and Points

• Stevens got off to a fast start in the opening set, taking advantage of a pair of NYU errors to grab a 3-0 lead. Senior Brianna Perez recorded Stevens' first kill of the evening.
• The Ducks took advantage of eight NYU errors in the opening set.
• Consecutive kills by Mitchell and junior Kristen Edmiston keyed a seven-point run that grew Stevens' lead to nine (24-15).
• Kelsey Kraetz briefly halted Stevens' offensive, but Hain set down a Julie Greco set to close out the opening set.
• The Ducks jumped out again in the second set on a Mitchell kill and an ace by freshman Roxy Stirb.
• Mitchell played a role in three straight points, pairing with Sara Hain for a block, recording an ace and converting an Elizabeth Chu pass to push the Stevens lead to four.
• Perez dished out assists to three different players to grow the advantage to seven (10-3).
• NYU reeled off five straight points to pull within one, put consecutive errors returned a comfortable margin to the visiting Ducks.
• Mitchell tallied three straight kills to give Stevens a 17-11 lead and then converted a Perez set to grow the lead to eight.
• A Kraetz attack error gave Stevens set point and freshman Corinne Dougherty set down a Perez set to close out the frame.
• An attack error gave NYU the opening point of the final set - the first lead of the night for the Violets.
• DeJong set down a Stella Alveson set to give NYU a three-point lead before the Ducks ran off five straight points to reclaim the lead. Three NYU errors spurred the rally and Chu recorded an ace to punctuate it. Chu is tied with sophomore Jillian Roumbanis for the team lead with five aces.
• NYU would convert four consecutive points to again force a tie, but a pair of ball-handling errors surrounded a Hain kill to again put Stevens comfortably in front.
• After regaining the lead, the Ducks never relinquished it, pushing the advantage to five after back-to-back kills by Stewart and Edmiston.
• NYU rallied to close the deficit to one, but Stevens scored four of the final five points to close out the match. 

Match Point

• A Gretchen Kincade error closed out the match.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens outhit NYU, .271-.071 for the match and hit a match-high .424 in the opening set. 
• Six different players recorded a kill for the Ducks and five different players registered a block.
• Mitchell led the team with eight digs.
• Each team served five aces.
• The Ducks topped the Violets in assists and digs.

From the Courts

• "Tonight was exactly what we needed and it felt like Ducks volleyball!"
• "That was a tough NYU team that made us work for every point, but we executed our scouting report very well."
• "We feel like we played as a team and everyone really came alive. Taleen had a breakthrough performance and provided the consistency and confidence that we needed."
• "We're excited for another tough weekend coming up with our home opener."

Unsung Hero

• Perez went a perfect 5-for-5 on kills (a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage), while recording four digs to go along with her team-leading 13 assists.

Up Next

• Stevens welcomes the College of Mount Saint Vincent to Canavan Arena to open the 2018 Ducks Classic.
• It will be Stevens' home opener.
• The teams have not met since the 2010 season.
• Live stats and video links at StevensDucks.com.

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