Newark, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team swept its fifth straight match on Friday over Rutgers-Newark, continuing its phenomenal start to the season, running its record to 15-2.
The Ducks won 25-14, 25-19, 25-13, displaying dominance on both sides of the net once again, hitting over .300 for the sixth time this season while holding their fourth opponent of the year under .000, forcing 18 errors while conceding just 12 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set was competitive early, with Rutgers-Newark keeping pace through the first several points before Stevens found its rhythm. Behind the distribution of setter
Alexa Brucculeri and the attacking of
Alyssa O'Neal, the Ducks turned a 3-2 edge into an 8-3 advantage. Consecutive aces from
Ella Boland and later from
Cadence Sturt helped the Ducks widen the gap, while a block by
Kileen McNeill and Brucculeri highlighted a dominant stretch as the lead ballooned to 24-10. Four straight Rutgers-Newark points only briefly delayed the end of the set, which came via a service error. O'Neal (four kills), Boland (three), and
Julianne Danis (three) led the way for the Ducks.
Stevens jumped in front 10-4 in the second set behind a series of kills from O'Neal, but Rutgers-Newark responded with a six-point surge to tie the score at 10-10, eventually putting the Ducks in a 14-11. Stevens answered immediately, as kills from
Eva Curko and O'Neal, along with strong play at the net from McNeill, fueled a decisive run that flipped the momentum. Tied at 19, the Ducks closed the frame on a 6-0 run, capped by three kills from Curko, to secure a 25-19 win and a commanding two-set advantage. O'Neal finished the set with a whopping 10 kills, while McNeill added three solo blocks.
Tied 5-5 in the third, the Ducks broke free with a 5-1 burst behind contributions from O'Neal, Curko and
Sarah Bolduc. Stevens continued to pressure Rutgers-Newark with efficient attacking and timely blocking, extending the margin to 20-11.
Ava Stewart and Bolduc contributed key points late, while another ace from
Alyssa O'Neal helped seal the outcome. One final kill by Bolduc finished off the set and the sweep. O'Neal tacked on seven more kills in the set; Bolduc put away four.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Ducks improved to 15-0 this season in three- or four-set matches
- O'Neal recorded the third-highest hitting percentage of her career (.594) while simultaneously putting away the second-most kills of her career (21)
- Brucculeri finished with 34 assists, tied for her most in the 10 three-set matches the Ducks have played this season
- Curko finished with six kills and a .385 hitting percentage, both season-highs
UP NEXT
The Ducks, 4-0 in MAC Freedom play, host DeSales, 3-1 in the conference, on Tuesday at 7:00 PM in a battle for first place.
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