OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson University downed No. 13 Eastern University to open the Middle Atlantic Conference crossover in women's volleyball Saturday morning at Owings Mills Gymnasium by a 3-1 score, followed by a 3-1 win over DeSales University in the evening.  The set scores against Eastern were 26-24, 18-25, 25-18, 27-25.  The win over the Eagles is the first over a ranked opponent for the Mustangs since downing No. 8 Juniata in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2013.

Sophomore Moriah Savage led Stevenson (15-7) with 15 kills on .480 hitting, while junior Annika Schwartz posted her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and a career-high 23 digs.  She also finished with four service aces.  Senior Kristen Brooks notched nine kills and 12 digs, while freshman Victoria Prokic posted eight kills and four blocks. 

Junior Deanna Bradbury recorded 26 digs, while senior Sara Bollinger registered 23 assists, 10 digs and six service aces.  Freshman Julie Nightwine added 20 assists.

Eastern (15-2) was paced by Alicia Weigel's 18 kills, while Stephanie Elechko added 14.

In the fourth set, Stevenson held a 19-9 lead following a Nightwine service ace before the Eagles started to chip away, pulling within 21-17 on a Stevenson attack error.  Eastern pulled within 23-22 when a Savage kill put Stevenson up 24-22 and serving for match point.

A Weigel kill, followed by points from Sarah Roberts and Elechko, put the guests up 25-24 and serving to force a fifth set.  Sophomore Chelsea Ireland capped a long rally with a kill to tie the set 25-25, then back-to-back kills by Brooks closed out the match.

In the first set, Stevenson fell behind 18-12 before a 5-1 run by the Mustangs capped by back-to-back Savage kills made it 19-17.  Stevenson took its first lead of the set at 25-24 on an attack error, then an ace by Bollinger closed out the set.

Against DeSales (11-8), Stevenson dropped the first set 23-25 before rallying to win 25-11, 25-22, 25-13 to extend its win streak to six matches.

Savage finished with 15 kills against the Bulldogs, with Schwartz notching 12 and junior Lauren Weaver 11.  Schwartz recorded her second double-double of the day with 10 digs.  Bradbury led the way with 16 digs defensively, followed by Brooks' 11, while Bollinger notched 23 assists and Nightwine 20.

Stevenson led 20-13 in the first set and held a 23-17 lead when the Bulldogs ran off the final seven points of the set to take a 1-0 lead.  DeSales took advantage of five straight Mustang attack errors.  The hosts gathered themselves to jump out to an 8-0 lead in the second set and were never seriously threatened.

The third set was tied 20-20 when a service error followed by a Savage kill gave Stevenson a 22-20 lead.  Schwartz recorded an ace to make it 23-20, with another Savage kill closing out the frame.  Stevenson again charged out strong in the fourth, opening up a 15-5 lead.

Stevenson returns to action Wednesday night when it travels to Widener University for a 7:00 MAC Commonwealth contest.

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW WITH DAVE TRUMBO