Hoboken, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team advanced to a fifth straight Middle Atlantic Conference men's volleyball championship match with a sweep of Misericordia on Thursday evening.

The Ducks, No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and top seed in the tournament, downed the fourth-seeded Cougars 25-16, 25-23, and 25-20.

How it Happened
Stevens (24-5) took the opening two points of the match, then held the lead throughout the opening set. Mis closed to within one as late as 7-6, but the Ducks took six of the next seven, forcing a Misericordia timeout with the Ducks suddenly up 13-7. Mis closed to within four at 17-13 and 18-14, but the Ducks pushed the margin back to seven, first at 22-15, then 23-16, forcing Misericordia's second timeout. The stoppage did little to stop the Ducks' momentum, as they took the next two points for a 1-0 lead.

After playing the role of chaser throughout the first, Misericordia became the chased throughout the early goings of the second set, holding leads of 6-2 and 10-6 before Stevens rallied to tie at 11, but Mis went right back in front 14-12. Stevens finally took the lead, eventually growing it to 19-15, forcing a Misericordia timeout. The Cougars came all the way back, grabbing a 23-22 lead, but the Ducks jumped back in front 24-23, then Joshua Levandoske closed the set in style, going under the net to extend a point he later capped with a solo block, giving the Ducks a two-set lead.

Stevens took a 6-2 lead in the third, forcing an early Misericordia timeout. The Cougars closed to 7-6, then 9-8, then 13-12, but couldn't get over the hump, as the Ducks reeled off four in a row, forcing Misericordia's second timeout at 17-12. The Cougars closed to 17-15, then 21-19, then 22-20, but the Ducks ended the set (and the night) with three straight points.

Inside The Box Score

• Ryan Schmid had a team-high 12 kills, hitting .400, to go along with eight digs
• Julius Stiemer finished with 11 kills, both of the team's service aces, and six digs
• Levandoske finished with team-highs of three solo blocks and 10 digs
• Quinn Bozarth surpassed 400 assists for the year, finishing the evening with 29, adding a pair of setter dumps and four digs
• The Ducks' defense held Misericordia to a .108 attack percentage after the Cougars hit .222 during the regular season matchup

Up Next
The Ducks will host No. 2 Messiah (8 in AVCA poll) in the conference championship match on Saturday night at 7:00 PM. The Ducks swept the Falcons at Canavan Arena earlier this season, as well as in last season's conference championship match.

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