HOBOKEN, NJ (September 22, 2021) -- Despite the late surge from the Monarchs, the King's College women's volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season and its first in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) on Wednesday night, falling to the host Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks, 3-0, in the Canavan Arena.

King's (8-1, 1-1 MAC Freedom) matched the Duck's (10-2, 3-0 MAC Freedom) early, trailing by just one, 12-11, but Stevens scored five straight points to start their 13-4 run to claim the opening set, 25-15.

The Monarchs swung the momentum to start the second set, leading 4-1 behind two kills and a block from senior Danielle Kitchner. After the two teams traded points, King's remained on top, 8-6, until the Ducks responded with another big 11-5 run to take the 17-13 advantage. The Stevens defense kept the Monarchs at bay as they handed King's the loss, 25-17, in set two.

In the final set of the match, King's made a final push to claim a set from the Ducks as they led 13-7. Stevens inched within three, 15-12, behind a run fueled by three kills and a block from Liz Patterson. The Monarchs continued to lead, 19-17, before the battle to put the set away began. Three consecutive Ducks kills gave the hosts the lead, 20-19, but a Stevens error and kill from senior Cleo Schultz allowed the Monarchs to pull ahead, 21-20. The Stevens offense proved too much for King's down the stretch as they recorded final five points of the match on kills as King's dropped the final set, 25-21, and the match, 3-0.

Senior Olivia Bunch led the balanced offense with eight kills, three digs, and three blocks. Kitchner and Schultz both added four kills, while Kitchner totaled the team-high three blocks. Senior Wiatt Hoffmann continued to solidly handle the offense, recording 18 assists and five digs. For the defense, senior Karissa Hartzell led with seven digs, first year Carly Shire added five, and seniors Toni Galasso and Christie Brown posted four a piece.

The Ducks were led by Liz Patterson with a match-high nine kills and four service aces, while Elizabeth Chu paced the defense with a match-high 12 digs. The setter duo of Kathleen Riegner and Enkhsanaa Enkhbayar combined for 31 of the 38 Stevens assists.

As a team, the Monarchs recorded 22 kills on 22 assists, adding four blocks and 30 digs.

King's is back at home for a tri-match with Rosemont and Medgar Evers on Saturday, September 25 starting at 11:00 a.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.