GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's volleyball team fell to (RV) Stevens Institute of Technology in MAC Freedom action Wednesday evening inside Alumni Gymnasium. The Knights (13-5, 1-2 MAC Freedom) dropped the match in straight sets, 25-21, 25-21 and 25-22. Stevens hit .230 for the match, while Arcadia hit .173. Raegan Oursler led all players with 20 kills, Alliy Kulas recorded a match-high three aces, Anna Keer led the Knights with four blocks, Kaitlyn Small finished with a team-high 13 assists and Avery Bell recorded a match-high 12 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Stevens 25 – Arcadia 21
• Down 1-0 early, the Knights rattled off three straight points behind kills from Julia Archelle and Chana Rothschild and a service ace from Kulas. Stevens responded with a 5-0 run before Oursler recorded her first kill of the night.
• Oursler added two more kills and teamed with Keer for a block before the Ducks used an 8-1 run to extend their lead. Oursler and Morgan Orsulak answered with kills as the Knights looked to close the gap.
• Arcadia battled back with a 5-0 run, highlighted by two more Oursler kills. Oursler then added two kills and a service ace, while Orsulak and Keer teamed up for a block to cap a 4-0 run and bring the Knights within striking distance.
• Stevens closed the set with three straight points to take the opening frame, 25-21.
SET TWO: Stevens 25 – Arcadia 21
• After the teams traded points to begin the second set, Oursler and Keer continued to fuel the Arcadia offense with kills as the Knights trailed 7-4. Archelle followed with a kill, and Kulas added another ace to spark a 3-0 run that evened the set at 8-8.
• Oursler added two more kills, but Stevens responded with a 7-2 run to take control. Katie Grimm entered the match and immediately recorded a kill, but the Ducks extended their lead to 22-14. Archelle and Keer then teamed up for a block before Oursler and Grimm added kills.
• Oursler served an ace late in the set, but Stevens secured the final point to take a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-21 victory.
SET THREE: Stevens 25 – Arcadia 22
• Trailing early in the third, the Knights got kills from Rothschild and two from Oursler. Keer and Devon Young teamed up for a block, while Grimm added a kill to tie the set at 6-6.
• Oursler and Rothschild recorded back-to-back kills, but Stevens responded with four straight points to take a 13-8 lead. Grimm added another kill, but the Ducks extended their advantage to 17-10.
• Arcadia mounted a late comeback with kills from Rothschild, Oursler and Archelle, along with a Kulas ace, to cut the deficit to 19-17.
• The Knights continued to battle, getting two more kills from Oursler and additional kills from Grimm and Small to pull within 24-22. Stevens, however, recorded the final point to close out the set, 25-22, and complete the straight-set victory.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Kills: Oursler (20), Grimm (7), Rothschild (4)
Aces: Kulas (3), Oursler (2)
Blocks: Keer (4), Young (1), Archelle (1)
Assists: Small (13), Saenz (11), Bell (9)
Digs: Bell (12), Saenz (8), Small (8)
UP NEXT
The Knights remain at home Saturday for a tri-match against Gwynedd Mercy and Baruch. Prior to the start of the match against Gwynedd Mercy, Arcadia will honor its three seniors.
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