Patterson
Dave Janosz
0
Misericordia Mis 17-17,4-3 MAC Freedom
3
Winner Stevens Stev 20-9,7-0 MAC Freedom
Misericordia Mis
17-17,4-3 MAC Freedom
0
Final
3
Stevens Stev
20-9,7-0 MAC Freedom
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Misericordia Mis 15 16 11 (0)
Stevens Stev 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Stevens Athletic Communications

Women’s Volleyball Sweeps Misericordia to Reach Fourth Straight MAC Freedom Title Game

Patterson leads offense with 13 kills as Ducks again cross 20-win plateau

HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 8, 2023) – Senior Liz Patterson finished with a match-high 13 kills and sophomore middle Vivian Lisboa totaled five kills and four blocks, as the top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team swept fourth-seeded Misericordia University (25-15, 25-16, 25-11) Wednesday evening in a MAC Freedom semifinal game at Canavan Arena.

Senior Meg Dion recorded nine kills on 13 swings with just one error (.615 hitting percentage) and setters Gabbi Roberts and Molly Harris combined for 28 assists as the Ducks hit .333 as a team in winning their third straight to improve to 20-9. The victory extended the Ducks' run of consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins to 10. 

Cassandra Genduso finished with eight kills to pace Misericordia, who dropped its second straight to close its 2023 season at 17-17. The Ducks have won all eight meetings with the Cougars – including six sweeps. Stevens has now won all three postseason matchups between the programs.

Stevens will face Lebanon Valley in Saturday's championship match. The Dutchmen rallied to defeat second-seeded Arcadia in four sets on Wednesday evening on the other side of the bracket. The teams met on Oct. 10 for the first time as conference foes, with the Ducks rallying after dropping the opening set to defeat Lebanon Valley in four sets down in Annville. Saturday's finale is believed to be the sixth meeting between the teams, but the first that will be contested in Hoboken.

The Rundown
  • The Ducks got off to a sluggish start and spotted the guests the first four points of the match and five of the first six. Once on track, the Ducks rallied to knot the set at 10 after a solo rejection by Lisboa. A decisive 8-0 run turned a 12-11 deficit into a six-point advantage for Stevens before a 5-0 run brought Stevens to set point. The Ducks committed just four errors in the opening set – two attack miscues, one reception error and one service error – and hit a scorching .476 (12-2-21) in claiming the first set.
  • Misericordia came out clicking to start the second, scoring the first three points to grab an early lead. Two Dion kills sandwiched a Misericordia attack error, as Stevens was able to even the set at six. Ironically, it was another 8-1 run that fully swung momentum in the Ducks' favor. Trailing by two, a service error returned possession to the home team and a Sappia ace put the Ducks back in front and in the next sequence, Patterson set down three kills as part of five unanswered points that put the Ducks in front for good. The Ducks would go on to score nine of the final 13 points in winning the second set.
  • Stevens did not allow Misericordia any chance at climbing into the match. Lisboa opened scoring by converting a Roberts pass for the first point of the set. Roberts then dumped a pass from sophomore Paulina Miller into the middle of the Misericordia defense. Stevens would lead the set wire-to-wire and held Misericordia to negative hitting percentage in the set to complete the sweep.
 
Top Performers
  • Patterson's 13 kills were a season high and marked the eighth time the Midland Park, New Jersey native reached double figures this season.
  • Senior Elle Maggio matched Lisboa with five kills.
  • Senior Madison Sappia totaled a match-high 12 digs and had one ace.
  • Four different players served up an ace.
  • Two of the Ducks' best hitting percentages this season have come against Misericordia.
  • The Ducks held Misericordia to a 0.020 hitting percentage, which is the fourth-lowest mark by a Stevens opponent this season.

For the Opponents
  • Libero Jessica Cleveland, who finished with 10 digs, tallied 32 receptions without an error and recorded a kill.
  • Jenna Schuda dished out 21 assists. 
  • Sarah Kelly had a team-high three blocks. 

Around the Middle Atlantic Conference Playoffs
  • #2 Lebanon Valley 3, #3 Arcadia 1 (MAC Freedom)
  • #2 Stevenson 3, #3 Messiah 1 (MAC Commonwealth)
  • #1 Eastern 3, #4 York 1 (MAC Commonwealth)

Coach's Comments
  • "Our match tonight was a great start to our postseason. We started a bit slow in the first set, but we settled in nicely a few points later, and never looked back. As a whole, we were able to spread our offense and run the middle consistently throughout the match. We are looking forward to hosting Lebanon Valley for the championship match on Saturday and will spend the next few days of practice preparing." – head coach Macon Frey

Up Next
  • Stevens welcomes second-seeded Lebanon Valley to Canavan Arena on Saturday, Nov. 11 for the MAC Freedom championship. The Ducks are in search of their fourth straight conference title and the accompanying automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship. Lebanon Valley is looking for its fifth conference crown, which would be the first since 2011. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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Women's Volleyball Social Media
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