OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Piper Connors and Sophia Eckerd combined for 33 kills as the Stevenson University women's volleyball team staved off conference newcomer York (Pa.) for a 3-2 MAC Commonwealth victory Wednesday night at Owings Mills Gymnasium.  Set scores were 25-16, 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10. 

• Back-to-back kills for Stevenson's (5-0, 1-0) Shannon Baily put the Mustangs in front 10-6.
• York (2-2, 0-1) cut the lead to two four times, the last time at 16-14.
• Leading 19-15, the hosts reeled off four straight points to take a 23-15 lead on a Kayla Vaeth service ace and an Eckerd kill closed out the set.

• The Spartans stormed out to a 16-8 lead in the second frame.
• Stevenson scored 10 of the set's next 12 points to tie things up 18-18 on an Eckerd kill, and took a 19-18 lead on a Rileigh Kimball block.
• York scored the next three points to reclaim the lead, 21-19.
• The Mustangs scored the next two points before three straight York points put the guests serving for set point.
• A service error and attack error by York pulled Stevenson within 24-23, but a Tyler Williams kill tied the match 1-1.

• Stevenson led 11-9 when it went on a 10-0 run with Emily Pellini serving.
• Connors had four kills and a block during the run, while Haley Hoover had a kill and a block.
• An Eckerd kill put the Mustangs up 2-1.

• The fourth set featured a total of 14 ties, the last coming at 22-22.
• York took a 23-22 lead on a Sydney Wilber kill.
• The Spartans scored the final two points via a block and a Tyler Williams service ace.

• With the set tied 5-5, three straight Mustang points put the hosts up 8-5.
• Sarah Straub and Eckerd started the run with a block, then Straub and Connors combined on a block to make it 8-5.
• The Spartans cut the lead to 11-10 on a service ace.
• The Mustangs reeled off the final four points of the match with a Taylor Jones kill closing things out.

• Connors hit .324 and racked up 17 kills along with three blocks.
• Eckerd had 16 kills on .273 hitting and added five blocks.
• Straub finished with five blocks and three kills.
• Vaeth recorded 16 digs, with Pellini notching 15.
• Vaeth also posted five service aces.
• Mackenzie Blevins finished with 23 assists and four service aces, with Makala Thompson registering 18 assists.
• Stevenson hit .213 as a team while holding the Spartans to a .103 hitting clip.
• The five sets featured a total of 33 ties and 19 lead changes.
• Stevenson improved to 67-0 in MAC Commonwealth regular season play since joining the league in 2012 and 83-0 all-time when including MAC Commonwealth tournament play.
• The five-set win was the fifth in MAC Commonwealth regular season play during the run and the first since besting Arcadia 3-2 in 2019.
• The Mustangs have won their last six five-set matches dating back to 2018.

• Stevenson returns to action Friday, September 10, when it opens its two-day tournament by facing Dickinson at 6 pm at Owings Mills Gymnasium.