ITHACA, N.Y. – In a match that featured 21 ties and 11 lead changes, the Stevenson University women's volleyball team battled – and clawed – through five sets but Babson took the last set 15-13 and won the match 3-2 in the NCAA First Round at Ithaca on Thursday night.
 
Stevenson, who came into the regional as the sixth seed, gave the Beavers a strong battle on the evening.
 
Set scores were 20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 23-25 and the final set was 13-15.
 
For Stevenson, Kylie DesLauriers had a team-high 14 kills, with Rileigh Kimball netting 13 kills. Darian Dildy had 11 kills.
 
Samantha Simmers had 24 assists, with DesLauriers and Makala Thompson each had three service aces.
 
Defensively, Thompson had 16 digs as did Kayla Vaeth. DesLauriers had 14 digs for the Mustangs.
 
After the early part of the first set was close, Babson took a 15-7 lead and grew that lead to 22-15. Stevenson made a charge and got within two at 22-20 as Maren Zepfel had a block and Kimball had a kill.
 
In the second set, Stevenson led Babson get within one at 16-15 but that would be as close as the Beavers would get. Leading 23-20, Dildy had a kill followed by a Beaver attack error to close the second set.
 
In the third set, Stevenson trailed 17-12 before going on a 10-1 run capped by a kill from DesLauriers to go up 22-18. DesLauriers had a service ace to end the third set.
 
The fourth set was a see-saw battle which saw the Mustangs and Beavers tied at 20. Facing set point at 24-20, Stevenson rattled off three straight points, but an attack error gave the Beavers the fourth set.
 
In the final and deciding set, both teams traded the lead before Stevenson had a 12-10 advantage following a block by Dildy. Leading 13-11, Babson got three points on Mustang attack errors and a kill to win the match at 15-13.
 
The Mustangs finished 22-8 on the season, with seven losses coming to teams who made the NCAA tournament.