Haverford, Pa. – Sophomore Sarah Bolduc registered a match-high 16 kills to go along with 18 digs and five blocks as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team opened its 2025 season with a thrilling five-set victory over Union (N.Y.) Friday evening at the Haverford Invitational.
 
Set scores were 25-27, 25-16, 25-9, 18-25, 15-13.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens opened the first set by winning six of the first eight points, with Bolduc putting down two early kills. Junior Ella Kraver added four kills as the Ducks extended the lead to 11-6, but the Garnet Chargers answered with a 7-1 run to move in front 13-12. Stevens countered with a 7-2 run of their own, highlighted by a double block from Bolduc and Vivian Lisboa, to take a 19-14 lead. A solo block by Ava Stewart stretched the advantage to 22-17, but Union rallied with five straight points to level the frame at 22. Kills from Kraver and Mallory Eder brought Stevens to set point, but Union closed on a 5-1 run to claim the opening set, 27-25.

Union grabbed an early 5-3 edge in the second set, but strong serving from Bolduc flipped momentum. The sophomore delivered five straight points at the service line to spark a four-point cushion. The Ducks maintained control behind two kills from Stewart and another from Kraver to extend the margin to 17-8. Union closed within eight late, but a service error handed Stevens the 25-16 win to even the match.

The Ducks dominated the third set. With the score tied at three, setter Alexa Brucculeri put down a kill to give Stevens the lead and then delivered six straight points at the service line. Bolduc and Lisboa combined for back-to-back blocks during the run, while Eder added two kills to push the lead to double figures. Lisboa finished the set with a kill off a Molly Harris assist to close out the 25-9 victory.

Stevens raced out to a 6-3 advantage in the fourth, with Harris opening the frame with back-to-back service aces. Union rallied to take an 11-9 lead, but a ball-handling error and another Harris ace quickly tied the score. The set remained close through 14-all before Union pulled ahead. A Stevens ace tied things at 16, but the Garnet Chargers swung momentum with a 5-0 run and went on to take five of the last six points for a 25-18 win that forced a decisive fifth.

Union carried its momentum into the final frame, using a 5-0 run to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 7-3 lead. The Ducks refused to back down, responding with four straight points, including a Bolduc ace, to even the score at seven. Union edged back in front 12-10, but consecutive Bolduc kills tied the score once more. The sophomore then hammered down back-to-back swings to bring Stevens to match point, and following a Union timeout, Brucculeri sealed the victory with a kill as the Ducks secured the 15-13 win and the five-set triumph.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bolduc recorded her third career double-double, setting career highs in both kills (16) and digs (18).
• Stevens collected 86 digs as a team, paced by senior Paulina Miller (22) and libero Lianna Schmieder, who tallied a career-high 16.
• Brucculeri filled the stat sheet with 36 assists, seven digs, and four kills, while classmate Kraver added 10 kills.
• Lisboa continued her presence at the net with eight kills and a match-high seven blocks.
• Stewart chipped in seven kills and three blocks, while Julianne Danis contributed three kills and two aces. 

UP NEXT
The Ducks play a pair of matches tomorrow, taking on Stockton University at 1 p.m. before battling host Haverford College at 3 p.m.