Box Score 1 | Box Score 3 Hoboken, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team earned a split in its home-opening tri-match Saturday at Canavan Arena.
 
The Ducks (4-4) fell to Tufts University 25-20, 27-25, 26-24 in the opener before sweeping Drew University 25-23, 25-16, 25-15 in the nightcap.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Tufts)
Tufts raced out quickly in the opening frame, but Stevens responded with kills from Ella Boland and Eva Tarolli, along with a service ace from Paulina Miller. Boland continued to pace the attack, while Vivian Lisboa and Ella Kraver chipped in to trim the deficit to 16-15. Stevens remained close down the stretch behind late kills from Boland, Lisboa, and Tarolli, but Tufts closed the set 25-20.
 
The second frame featured back-and-forth rallies. Lisboa landed an early ace and added two kills, while Tarolli and Kraver contributed points to keep the Ducks level. Boland and Lisboa teamed for a block in a 5-2 run that pushed Stevens ahead 20-18, and Kraver later gave the Ducks a 23-22 edge. Lisboa followed with consecutive aces for set point, but Tufts rallied and held off another Kraver kill to escape 27-25.
 
In the third, Sarah Bolduc sparked Stevens with a kill, a block with Lisboa, and another finish to fuel a rally. Kraver and Boland added points as the Ducks closed the gap, before Bolduc strung together three straight plays — a kill, a forced error, and a block with Tarolli — and added a service ace to tie it at 23. Kraver tacked on two late kills, but Tufts claimed the final two rallies for a 26-24 win and the sweep.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. Tufts)

• Kraver tallied a career-high 15 kills and posted her first collegiate double-double with 10 digs.
• Lianna Schmieder led the defense with 16 digs; Bolduc added 12.
• Alexa Brucculeri dished out 23 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Drew)
The Ducks opened strong in the first set, with Ava Stewart and Boland providing early kills and Bolduc and Tarolli adding points at the net. Midway through, Boland tied the frame at 19, but Drew surged ahead 22-19. Stevens responded with a decisive 6-1 run, highlighted by a Bolduc kill, a block from Bolduc and Stewart, and a Kraver finish. A Drew miscue ended it, giving the Ducks the opener 25-23.
 
In the second, rookie Alyssa O'Neal sparked the offense with two early kills, and Brucculeri followed with back-to-back service aces in a 5-1 start. Stewart and O'Neal continued to add points, while Boland and Bolduc anchored the front row. Raeann Baker contributed an ace as the lead widened, and O'Neal stayed hot late before Brucculeri closed the set with another ace in a 25-16 win.
 
The Ducks dominated the third from the start. O'Neal and Stewart combined for a block before Boland and Brucculeri extended the lead. Kraver then delivered two aces during a 10-1 run that broke the set open. Boland's steady attack and Kraver's service pressure kept the Ducks rolling, while Bolduc added a late kill. Consecutive Drew errors sealed a 25-15 win and the sweep.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. Drew)

• Boland hit .483 (16-2-29) with two digs.
• Schmieder collected a career-best 21 digs with six assists.
• O'Neal hit .400 (7-1-15), while Stewart added three block assists.
• Kraver totaled four aces, while Brucculeri added three aces and 29 assists.

UP NEXT 
The Ducks continue their home slate next weekend, hosting Sarah Lawrence, Oneonta, and Springfield for a quad match. Stevens will face Sarah Lawrence Friday at 2:30 p.m. and Springfield at 7:30 p.m., with Sarah Lawrence and Oneonta meeting at 5:00 p.m.