Dallas, Pa. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Misericordia University Wednesday evening in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play at the Anderson Sports Center.
 
The Ducks (6-6, 0-1 MAC Freedom) battled in each frame and had chances late, but ended up falling 25-21, 25-22, and 25-23.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens opened the first set with early momentum, as Ella Kraver notched a kill and an ace to spark a 2-0 start. Sarah Bolduc followed with two kills of her own, while Ella Boland and setter Alexa Brucculeri kept the offense moving to trade points with the Cougars. Midway through, the Ducks erased a 15-12 deficit with a 5-1 stretch capped by a Bolduc kill to briefly move ahead. Misericordia answered with a block and back-to-back kills in a 6-1 spurt, and though Stevens closed back to within two at 23-21, the hosts sealed the set with the final two points.
 
In the second, Vivian Lisboa provided a lift at the service line, delivering consecutive aces during a 3-0 run that put Stevens up 13-9. The home side reeled off eight consecutive markers, turning a four-point deficit into a four-point lead. An attack error gave the Cougars their largest lead at 23-16 before Stevens countered with six of the next seven to get within at 24-22. During the rally, Mallory Eder, Molly Harris, and Alyssa O'Neal netted kills, as O'Neal capped off the run with an ace. They were unable to get closer, as a kill put the hosts up 2-0.
 
An O'Neal ace capped off a 3-0 run in the third, leveling the frame at nine. After the home side answered with four straight markers, Bolduc paused the run with a kill. Misericordia jumped back in front 20-15, but an unforced error, a Lisboa kill, and a Harris ace trimmed the gap to 20-18. Stevens battled back, tying the match at 22 on a kill from Boland and at 23 on a kill from Eva Tarolli. The Cougars countered with the last two points, including an ace on match point.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Bolduc led Stevens with seven kills, while Eder added four on just nine swings (.444).
• Lisboa filled the stat sheet with two kills, three aces, five digs, and two blocks.
• Setter Molly Harris handed out 14 assists and added four digs.
• Lianna Schmieder posted a team-high nine digs.
• The Ducks finished with nine service aces, including three from Kraver and three from O'Neal.

 
UP NEXT
Stevens continues MAC Freedom play Tuesday, traveling to Lebanon Valley for a 7 p.m. matchup in Annville, Pa.