Stevens’ Women’s Volleyball’s 2023 season started strong on the first day of classes on Friday, September 1, when the team participated in the Stevens Invitational. Playing Union College and Catholic University, Stevens ended the day having won their matches 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. The next day, Saturday, September 2, the team faced off against Defiance College and ensured their first place victory, finishing the game off with a score of 3-0 and the tournament having won all three sets. Totaling 114 kills, six aces and 31 blocks, senior Meg Dion, junior Cleo Shannon, senior Elle Maggio, senior Liz Patterson, and junior Parker Adkins made notable marks on the team’s success. In particular, Shannon led the team during their second game on Friday against Catholic University with 20 kills and five blocks.
Meg Dion’s impact on the team throughout the tournament did not go unnoticed, as she was recognized not only by Stevens, but also by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). On Monday, September 4, Dion was recognized as the MAC’s Freedom Defensive Player of the Week. Throughout the tournament, Dion contributed 15 blocks and in the Ducks’ just three sets against Defiance on Saturday, she had eight kills and six aces. Additionally, Dion was one of two players at the invitational to hit double digits on opening weekend, which she accomplished in less than two sets.
The next week, the team competed in the Gargoyle Classic, hosted by the University of Chicago. On Friday, September 8, the team took losses to both Colby College and North Park University. In their first game, the Ducks went 0-3 against Colby. In the second, they started off strong, taking the victory in the first two sets against North Park, but were eventually defeated 2-3. Shannon managed 21 kills throughout the day, and Patterson totaled 15 kills and 42 digs.
On the final day of the tournament, Saturday, September 9, the team played the University of Chicago. The Ducks started strong, claiming the first two sets 25-23 and 25-19 but losing the third 14-25. The fourth set saw the Ducks’ victory, 25-20, securing their comeback following the two previous losses the day before, with a 3-1 victory over the University of Chicago. Saturday saw Shannon with 13 kills, two digs and two blocks throughout the game and Dion contributing another 10 kills and six blocks.
Stevens’ Women’s Volleyball now holds a 4-2 record for the 2023 season. Their next game will be in Doylestown, Pennsylvania against Delaware Valley University on Wednesday, September 20.
