Box score

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Led by 15 kills an 13 digs from sophomore Avery Gabbard (Arnold/Broadneck), the Stevenson women's volleyball team remained undefeated at home and won its ninth-straight, defeating Marymount (Va.) 25-14, 25-19, 25-13 Thursday night at Owings Mills Gymnasium in the CAC opener for both teams.

The Mustangs (11-1, 1-0 CAC) avenged last season's 3-0 road loss to Marymount (Va.) on Oct. 28, 2009 that kept them out of the CAC Volleyball Championship.

Gabbard totaled her second double double of the season and the 13th of her career.

Meanwhile, senior Alex Mercer (Eldersburg/Liberty) added 12 kills and now has 883 for her career. She also had four total blocks.

Gabbard and Mercer combined for 27 of the team's 42 kills while junior Alexa Carney (Towson/Towson) had seven, one short of her career-high of eight set at Philadelphia Biblical on Sunday. Carney also added eight digs.

Stevenson took control of the game from the start, totaling 14 kills in the first set compared to just three for the Saints. Carney totaled four of her seven kills in the opening set while junior Amy Rudolph (North East/Rising Sun) had nine of her season-high 12 digs.

The first set featured nine ties and five lead changes with the last coming at 12-12 before the Mustangs finished the set on a 13-2 run for the 11-point victory.

The two teams battled back-and-forth in the second set, but after Marymount took a 16-15 lead on back-to-back kills by Johanna Hummel, Stevenson finished with a 10-3 run to win it, thanks to kills from Gabbard, Mercer, junior Brooke Gilley (Bel Air/C. Milton Wright) and freshman Jessica Gieselman (Westminster/Winters Mill) as well as five Saint errors.

Stevenson coasted to victory in the third and final set after a game-high .300 hitting percentage and eight Marymount attack errors.

Gieselman finished with three kills, 37 assists and 11 digs as she was won of four Mustangs with at least 11 digs. In addition to Rudolph, Gieselman and Gabbard, freshman Samantha Shetterly (Elkridge/Mount de Sales) had a career-high 13, including 10 in the second set.

Hummel led the Saints (3-6, 0-1 CAC) with six kills, all of which came in the second set while Michelle McCormick had a game-high 17 digs.

Stevenson returns to action next Tuesday with a CAC road contest at Wesley. Game time is at 7:00 p.m.