Stevens Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 8, 2008) -- Playing one of its finest matches prior to traveling to the Cortland Invitational this weekend, the Vassar women's volleyball team shoed tenacious hustle and desire despite falling to Stevens Institute of Technology, 25-22, 25-18, 25-20, Wednesday night at Kenyon Hall. In the defeat, however, there was a statistical bright spot: senior Katie Newton (Carpinteria, CA/Santa Barbara) reached her 600th career kill.

The Brewers are now 8-12 on the season with four games at the Cortland Invitational ahead. Stevens, which has now one nine straight and 13 of its last 14 matches, improves to 18-4. Vassar next meets host Cortland on Friday night while Stevens will host No. 24 on Saturday, October 11.

Vassar was led by the Liberty League Rookie of the Week, freshman Amy Bavosa (Eastport, NY/Eastport Southmanor) and junior Tess Johnson (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) with eight kills each. Newton came into the match with 599 career kills and added four on the evening, bringing her to 603.

Johnson also add a season-high 17 digs. Three other Brewers, including freshman Mary-Chris Arena (Fairport, NY/Fairport), junior Chelsea Mottern (Bound Brook, NJ/Rutgers Prep) and senior Mailynh Phan (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) each had nine digs. Phan had 22 assists in the match.

Stevens was led by senior Melanie Volk (Thompson Station, TN/Father Ryan) with nine kills and senior Summer Hamilton (San Diego, CA/Bishop's School) with eight. Senior Melissa Rhode (New Orleans, LA/Benjamin Franklin) had 16 assists and Sophomore Sara Budar (Honolulu, HI/Punahou) had 15.

Each of the three games were hotly contested. In the opening game, Stevens jumped out to a 17-10 lead based on strong serving by sophomore Julie Reilly (Oradell, NJ/River Dell Regional). Vassar made a late run with Mottern serving, that brought the Brewers within five points at 21-16. With Rhode making big plays down the stretch, the Ducks were able to close out the set, 25-22. It wasn't without a fight, however, as the scrappy Vassar defense had 15 digs alone in the game.

The second set was equally as difficult for Stevens to close out, as the Brewers had the match tied 10-10. A couple of Vassar attack errors gave Stevens a 20-16 margin, and with Rhodes serving well, were able to build a 22-17 lead. Despite is hustle, Vassar was unable to cut the gap any closer as Stevens won 10 of the last 14 points to take the second game. Volk, Reilly and Rhode all served well in the stretch for Stevens. Hamilton had six of her eight kills in this game.

Stevens broke out quickly in the third game, racing out to a 20-12 lead. Bavosa and junior Sarah Potts (Bellevue, WA/Newport) played particularly well for the Brewers, who fought back in the match to make it 23-18. Bavosa and Johnson each had three of their eight kills in the final set.