POTSDAM N.Y. (September 10, 2022)  – Junior Liz Patterson totaled 21 kills and 27 digs, including her first career double-double, to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team to a pair of victories Saturday to close out play at the North Country Classic. Both matches were contested at Clarkson University's Alumni Gymnasium.

Sophomore Cleo Shannon matched a career high with 14 kills and totaled three blocks as the Ducks defeated Middlebury College 3-2 (20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 16-25, 15-4) in the opening match of the day. In the second match of the day, junior Meg Dion blocked five shots and added five kills as the Ducks topped hosting Clarkson 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 17-25, 25-12). Both victories avenged setbacks from the 2021 season and ran the Ducks' record to 6-2. Stevens has won five straight.

Laney Sullivan had a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs for the Panthers, who rebounded with a sweep of Nazareth to wrap up play with a 3-1 record. The Ducks have won two of the three all-time meetings with Middlebury.

Allyson Treichel had 13 kills to lead Clarkson, who finished play 3-3. The teams have split 12 matches since 2006.

After the teams split the opening four sets, the Ducks found themselves in an early deficit in the deciding fifth set after Middlebury opened with consecutive kills. After a service error gave the Ducks possession, Stevens reeled off the next five points to seize control of the frame. Shannon and classmate Sophia Schaefer combined for the next four kills to push the Ducks' lead to 5-2. An attack error briefly slowed down the Stevens offense, but the Ducks scored the next eight points - four coming on Middlebury errors - to build a commanding advantage. A Shannon kill brought Stevens to match point and another Middlebury error secured the victory.

In the fifth set, the Ducks hit a blistering .500 (9-1-16), while holding the Panthers to a negative attack percentage (3-4-22). It was the lone time this season that the Panthers were forced into more attack errors than kills in any single set.

After each side claimed a set to begin the match, the teams were locked in a tight battle in the third set. Trailing by a point at 17-16, the Ducks notched seven of the next eight points to take a 23-18 lead. Shannon set down a set from senior Enkhsanaa Enkhbayar to bring the Ducks to set point and a Middlebury error clinched the set. The third set saw the teams play to 10 ties and five lead changes in the most closely contested set of the match.

After dropping the opening set, Stevens scored seven of the first nine points of the second set. First-year Gabbi Roberts served a pair of aces to spark a run and Shannon paired with Dion to block Gabbie O'Toole's attack to close it. The Ducks held a comfortable margin throughout the set and were able to even the match on kills by Patterson and junior Elle Maggio.

Against Clarkson, the Ducks claimed the first two sets en route to a decisive win over the Golden Knights. 

The Ducks found themselves down early in the first set after Clarkson scored the first three points of the match. The deficit was short-lived, however, as the Ducks scored five unanswered points to jump in front 7-4. Strong serves by sophomore Bailey Axelrad was key to the run as the second-year libero served an ace in the sequence and kills from Shannon (x2), Patterson and Dion helped Stevens build its lead.

Another lengthy run by the Ducks pushed the advantage to 10 at 17-7, however, Clarkson slowly climbed back into the set, pulling as close as 23-22, but the Ducks responded with consecutive kills to close out the frame. Shannon brought the Ducks to set point after converting a Robetrs feed and then the first-year setter fed Dion to close things out. Roberts finished with 13 assists.

While the first set featured several scoring runs by both sides, the Ducks jumped in front for good on a double block by Maggio and Dion, and maintained their advantage over the remainder of the set. Clarkson again clawed back into the frame, pulling within one on a Tess Sorel kill, but the Ducks responded with four straight points to push the lead to five. A Patterson ace and a Shannon kill pushed the advantage to a set-high six and ball-handling error handed the Ducks a 2-0 lead in the match.

After the Ducks dropped the third set, they wasted little time closing out the match, hitting .417 (14-4-24), while forcing Clarkson into four more attack errors (10) than kills (6). It was Schaefer doing most of the damage, knocking down four kills on six swings, while also registering three blocks. An eight-point run, sparked by an Axelrad kill on a misplay by the Golden Knights turned a five-point lead into a 13-point one. A Dion kill brought the Ducks to match point and a Maggio kill closed it out.

Inside the Numbers

• Patterson totaled 12 kills and 14 digs against Clarkson for her first career double-double. The Midland Park, New Jersey native finished one dig shy of matching her career high and her 12-kill outing was her first double-digit performance of the season.
• Axelrad continues to be a defensive force. She totaled 35 digs on the day - 25 against Middlebury and 10 against Clarkson - and is averaging 4.07 digs per set and leads the MAC Freedom with 122 digs.
• Shannon's 14 kills against Middlebury tied for the match high. 
• Enkhbayar dished out a season-high 25 assists in the win over Middlebury.
• The Ducks totaled 14 aces on the day - eight against Middlebury and six against Clarkson.
• Stevens totaled more blocks than both opponents. 
• The Ducks outhit both opponents and now lead the MAC Freedom with a .201 attack percentage. 

Unsung Hero

• Junior Madison Sappia produced a season-high 12 digs against Middlebury. The Wellington, Florida native also totaled 23 reception attempts across both matches and committed just two errors.

From the Sidelines - Head Coach Brianna Jones

• "I couldn't be more proud of our team! We handled our business and finished the weekend the way we wanted to: with four wins! Things are clicking for us as a team and it was a full team effort to put together a weekend full of victories!"

Up Next

• Women's volleyball returns to MAC Freedom play on Sept. 13, when the Ducks welcome DeSales to campus.
• The Bulldogs snapped the Ducks' string of 64 straight regular season conference victories, but Stevens avenged the loss with a four-set victory in the MAC Freedom title match.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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