HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 11, 2023) – Senior
Meg Dion had eight kills and five blocks as the top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team defeated second-seeded Lebanon Valley College 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-15) Saturday to win the MAC Freedom championship inside Canavan Arena.
Sophomore middle
Vivian Lisboa matched a career high with 13 kills and senior
Elle Maggio added 11 kills and a pair of blocks for the Ducks, who won their fourth straight MAC Freedom crown in improving to 21-9. Winners of four straight, Stevens will learn its NCAA placement Monday afternoon when the full 64-team bracket is unveiled.
Taylor McInerney finished with a match-high 21 kills and Marget Cole added 10 kills and three blocks to pace Lebanon Valley, who fell to 17-12. The Ducks have won the last five meetings between the programs and lead the all-time series 5-1. Interestingly, four of the Ducks' five wins in the all-time series have come in four sets, although Saturday's matchup was the first contested between the teams in Hoboken. Lebanon Valley was playing for its first conference championship since 2011.
For her efforts, Dion was named the MAC Freedom Tournament's Most Valuable Player. The West Chester, Pennsylvania native totaled 17 kills and six blocks across two matches, while hitting an impressive .556 (17-2-27). Dion is the second Stevens middle to earn MAC Freedom Tournament MVP honors – alumna Shelby Stewart received the accolade after piloting the Ducks to the program's first MAC Freedom title.
Three of the Ducks' four MAC Freedom titles have come in Hoboken.
The Rundown
- Dion knocked down a Molly Harris for the first point of the match and Stevens would go on to score four of the first five points in grabbing an early lead in the opening set. However, Lebanon Valley reeled off the next six points to take control of the set. Although the Dutchmen hit .276 in the opening set (the team's high point of the afternoon), the Ducks committed 11 errors in the set and finished with a match-low -0.043 attack percentage. Lebanon Valley used a 9-2 run later in the set to open a nine-point lead. The Ducks attempted to claw back into the match with an ace from senior Liz Patterson, but Lebanon Valley scored four of the final five points to close out the set.
- Lebanon Valley threatened to take control of the second set early, with three straight points to take a 3-1 lead. The Ducks attempted to climb back into the set and appeared in a position to put separation between the teams with a 9-2 run that featured kills from three different players and was punctuated by a Lisboa ace, but the Dutchmen strung together six unanswered points to take a slim 17-16 lead.
- In the most back-and-forth set of the match, Maggio knocked down a Harris set to draw the Ducks even. Two points later, junior Cleo Shannon knocked down another Harris pass and McInerney said an attack well out of the box to put the Ducks in front for good. Consecutive kills from Lisboa and Maggio brought the Ducks to a 23-20 advantage, but a kill from Margaret Cole and an attack error brought the guests within one at 24-23. Maggio put an end to any comeback hopes Lebanon Valley held by sending a Gabbi Roberts set into the defense as Stevens claimed the second set and evened the match. In winning the second set, the Ducks hit an impressive .414 (15-3-29).
- Roberts dumped a pass from junior Bailey Axelrad to give Stevens the first point of the third set. However, Lebanon Valley answered with five of the next six points to take the lead. Stevens answered with five in a row, but an attack error left the teams deadlocked at nine.
- Patterson sparked a 5-0 run with three kills that put the Ducks in front for good. A 7-1 run, capped by another Harris ace broke the set open and Dion recorded a solo block and a kill to close out the set.
- Looking to close out the match, the Ducks scored the first three points of the final set, but Lebanon Valley drew even at five after a McInerney kill and an attack error put the Dutchmen in front. However, Shannon and Patterson recorded kills as part of a four-point run that put Stevens in front for good. The Ducks closed the match out in style with nine of the final 11 points. As impressive as the team's offensive performance was in the second set, it was even better in the fourth, producing 16 kills on a 0.419 attack percentage. Seven different players had at least one kill in the clinching set, with Lisboa paving the way with five kills on nine swings without an error.
Top Performers
- Harris finished with a match-high three aces, while also dishing out 19 assists. Roberts, meanwhile, had four kills and 22 helpers.
- Senior Madison Sappia produced a match-high 14 digs.
- Shannon amassed three blocks.
- Stevens out-produced Lebanon Valley in aces and blocks.
- The match featured 18 ties and nine lead changes.
For the Opponents
- McInerney finished with a match-high 51 attacks, but only attacked at a 0.176 percentage.
- Libero Kasey Thomas led the Dutchmen with two aces, while also producing a team-high 11 digs.
- Stevens held Lebanon Valley to just eight kills in the third set.
Around the Middle Atlantic Conference
- #1 Eastern 3, #2 Stevenson 0 (MAC Commonwealth Final)
Coach's Comments
- "We are a proud staff tonight after the match our team played. We didn't have the best start, but never let that shake us and once we settled in, there was no looking back. I am so proud of the team and our confidence and composure. We are looking forward to a great week next week in the NCAA tournament!" – head coach Macon Frey
Up Next
- Stevens now awaits its NCAA placement, which will be announced on NCAA.com Monday afternoon. The appropriate match links for location, live stats and video will be posted to StevensDucks.com.
Athletic Department Social Media
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Women's Volleyball Social Media
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Women's Volleyball
Twitter: @stevens_vball
Instagram: @stevenswomens_volleyball
#AllRise
