On September 20 and 21, the women’s volleyball team hosted Stevens Quad Match #2 against Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT), Montclair State University, and William Smith College. The first day involved two matches with the Ducks taking both matches including Wentworth in four sets, and Montclair in five sets.
The first set of the first game against WIT seemed to test the Ducks at the beginning as they seemed to struggle with keeping up with the Leopards’ lead. With a kill from graduate student Elle Maggio, a solo rejection and three points from graduate student Meg Dion, seven points from Dion and sophomore Molly Harris, and three kills from senior Parker Adkins, the Ducks were able to finish that set with a 25-22 win. The second set had a stronger start for the Ducks, with notable serves from Dion, Harris, and senior Bailey Axelrad and kills from Adkins, Dion, junior Vivian Lisboa, and senior Cleo Shannon. Lisboa and Dion closed out set two, ending the set with a 25-12 win for Stevens. Staying tied up with WIT throughout the third set with a kill from Shannon left it pretty hopeful for the Ducks. The Leopards got the final three points, ending the set with a score of 25-27 for WIT. The Ducks were eager to make a comeback in the fourth set, with Adkins making three kills. While the Leopards were able to block two points, Maggio ended the set with a kill and a score of 25-16, giving the Ducks the win for the match with a 3-1 score.
While the Ducks took an early lead in the first set against Montclair, the Red Hawks were able to get a one up on them. With kills from Adkins, Harris, and Dion, Stevens was able to take the lead again. With the set point by Maggio off a set from Harris, the first set ended with a score of 25-19. Despite kills from Dion and Adkins, Montclair carried a heavy lead throughout the second set, and they were able to come out with a 20-25 win for the set because of an attack error. The third set saw ties all throughout the game, and when Montclair would lead the score, Stevens would match them with a tie. However, the Red Hawks tallied the final seven points, and won the set 19-25. The Ducks got a 17-9 lead in the fourth set, with four kills being from Lisboa. With a kill from Maggio, an ace from Harris, and Dion pinning a set from Harris, the Ducks won the fourth set 25-13 and tied the game 2-2. The Red Hawks took a lead in the tie-breaker set before the Ducks tied up the game. With two kills from Adkins and a kill from Dion, the Ducks won set five 15-13, and the game 3-2.
The next day, the Ducks went up against William Smith. Early in the first set, Stevens put out an early lead of five, with three kills from Lisboa. With blocks from Dion and first-year Ella Kraver, and a hit from Harris, Stevens took the first set 25-22. With a hit from Adkins in the second set, the Ducks were able to get within one, but the Herons went on to score eight out of the eleven points, giving them a lead of six. After a kill from Dion, the Herons matched with two more points ending the set 18-25 with a win for William Smith. The third set didn’t go any better for the Ducks, despite a kill from Lisboa and attempts by the Ducks to close the gap between the lead. The Herons tallied the final two points for the third set ending it with a score of 18-25. Despite Kraver serving up an ace in the fourth set, William Smith took a quick lead, and even extended the lead to double digits. The match ended with the Herons taking the final points, ending the set with a score of 12-25, and the game with a score of 3-1 for the Herons.
The Ducks will be playing again on September 28 at Virginia Beach, against Christopher Newport University and Virginia Wesleyan University.
