Haverford, Pa. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team knocked off Stockton University, but fell to Haverford College to close out play at the Haverford Invitational on Saturday.
The Ducks (2-1) swept Stockton 25-17, 25-20, 25-19 before dropping a four-set decision to the host Fords 25-27, 25-13, 25-18, 25-21.
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Stockton)
The Ospreys opened the match by scoring four of the first six points before Stevens responded with four straight. Ella Kraver delivered two consecutive aces during the run. After a Stockton sideout, Vivian Lisboa sparked a five-point stretch, with Ella Boland tallying two kills and Sarah Bolduc adding one. Stockton closed to within three at 16-13, but a Lisboa kill pushed the margin back to five. The Ducks closed out the first set with three straight points, including back-to-back blocks from Kraver and Ava Stewart.
In the second stanza, Stockton led 7-5 before Stevens turned the frame with a 6-0 run. Bolduc had two kills, while Stewart added one kill and two blocks. The Ospreys cut the deficit to two at 17-15, but Kraver halted the run with a kill off an Alexa Brucculeri set. Kraver then served an ace, followed by consecutive blocks from Lisboa and Boland to extend the lead to 21-15. Stockton fended off three set points before Liz Pederson put away a Molly Harris set to give Stevens a two-set advantage.
The Ducks raced out to six of the first seven points in the third, all coming on Stockton errors. A Harris ace extended the lead to 11-5, but Stockton clawed back to within one at 16-15 after an ace. Stevens responded with kills from Bolduc and Brucculeri to re-establish a four-point lead at 19-15. Stockton got no closer, and Pederson closed the sweep with a kill off a set from Lianna Schmieder.
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Haverford)
Stevens started strong, jumping out to a 5-2 lead on early aces from Schmieder and Brucculeri and two kills by Kraver. Haverford battled back within one several times, but the Ducks strung together three straight points midway through to stretch the margin to 14-10. A Bolduc kill later made it 18-12, but the Fords rallied to within one at 20-19. A Haverford error brought up set point for Stevens, and after the Fords staved off two set points, Kraver ended it with a kill for a 1-0 lead.
In the second set, Stevens trailed 4-3 after a Boland kill before Haverford used a decisive 9-1 run to seize control. The Ducks never recovered, getting no closer than 11, as the Fords evened the match.
The hosts carried momentum into the third set, taking an early 5-2 lead. A Stewart kill tied things at 7-7, but a 10-4 Haverford run created separation. A block by Kraver and Stewart cut the deficit to five, but Haverford closed the set with back-to-back points to take a 2-1 lead.
The Fords jumped out 4-0 in the fourth, but Stevens answered with a 9-3 run capped by consecutive aces from Kraver. The Ducks led 15-12 after a Harris ace, and the frame was later tied at 17 and 18. Haverford surged ahead with four straight points, but Stevens responded with three of their own, pulling within 22-21 on a block by Lisboa and Boland. The Ducks could get no closer, as the Fords secured the match with the final three points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. Stockton)
- Boland hit .550 (11-0-20) while adding seven block assists.
- Stewart was a force at the net, registering nine blocks to go with five kills.
- The Ducks’ 12 total blocks marked their highest output in a match since their NCAA First Round contest against Gallaudet, when they also recorded 12.
- Stevens held Stockton to a .000 hitting percentage, their lowest defensive mark since limiting Delaware Valley to -.018 on Nov. 6, 2024.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. Haverford)
- Kraver led with nine kills and three aces, while Boland, Stewart, and Bolduc each finished with six kills.
- Brucculeri handed out 22 assists, while Harris added seven.
- Schmieder paced the defense with 17 digs, with Brucculeri contributing eight.
UP NEXT
The Ducks head to New York City next weekend for the NYU Home-Opener Invitational. Stevens faces Susquehanna University Friday at 4:30 p.m. before taking on Gallaudet and host NYU Saturday.
