WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 21, 2022) -- The King's College women's volleyball team put up a valiant effort in their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom home opener but were swept by the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks 3-0 on Wednesday night. With this loss, the Monarchs drop to 6-3 overall, 0-2 in MAC Freedom play. The Ducks improve to 9-4 overall, 3-0 in MAC Freedom competition. 

The teams kept things relatively even out of the gate before the Ducks went on a 7-3 stretch about a quarter of the way in. Down 16-9, the Monarchs got a pair of kills from Kathy Shepherd and one from Kayla Sondberg to close the deficit to 18-16. Three kills by junior Elle Maggio gave Stevens a 22-17 lead. The group showed no quit however as they brought the game to a close 20-23. Senior Ava Smithing came up with the winner for the Ducks as they took the first set 25-20.

The Ducks went on an early 10-4 run in the second set. The Monarchs got back within five before the opposition went on a 10-2 surge to take the second set 25-12. 

The two teams kept pace with one another throughout the third set. They traded leads eight different times. Neither was ahead by more than three points until the Ducks took a late 22-18 lead. But the Monarchs showed great resilience as Joy Kindall and Mia Campanile each had late kills to make things interesting. Maggio capped off the night with the winner for the Ducks as they emerged victorious 25-21. 

Kindall led the Monarchs with six kills and 6.5 points. Shepherd and Salvia each registered five kills on the night. Morgan Bryant served up a pair of aces and also tied for the team lead with 10 kills. Carly Shire tallied nine assists which were followed by seven from Adriana Conforti and a couple from Keely Hoban. Morgan Williams again led a strong defensive effort with 10 digs as the Monarchs registered 45 digs to 41 for the Ducks. 

Smithing led the Ducks with eight kills while sophomore Bailey Axelrad totaled 18 digs. Graduate student Kathleen Riegner and junior Madison Sappia each had a couple of service aces. First year Gabbi Roberts led the team with 19 assists followed by senior Enkhsanaa Enkhbayar who had 10. 

The Monarchs will hold their first home tri-match of the season on Saturday as they will face Keystone College at 11:00 a.m. and University of Valley Forge at 3:00 p.m. Both games will happen at McGrane Gymnasium.