Player of the Week (Nov. 5)
Summer Hamilton, Stevens Institute of Technology
Jr., MB, San Diego, CA/Bishop's School

Hamilton was named Most Valuable Player of the Empire 8 Volleyball Championship as top-seeded Stevens captured the conference title with wins over Ithaca and RIT.  She totaled 18 kills (.256 hitting percentage), four blocks, and four digs in the two victories.

Rookie of the Week (Nov. 5)
Maggie Majcher, Stevens Institute of Technology
Fr., RS, Rahway, NJ/Rahway HS

Majcher finished with 11 kills and five digs as Stevens won the Empire 8 title with championship wins over Ithaca and RIT.  She registered a .500 hitting percentage with seven kills and one error in 12 attacks in the championship match victory over the Tigers.

Empire 8 Volleyball team notes... (Nov. 12)

Stevens (36-4) advanced to the NCAA Division III Volleyball national quarterfinals for the second consecutive year by winning the New York Regional.  The Ducks defeated conference rival Nazareth in the regional final.  Junior outside hitter Melanie Volk totaled 11 kills and 15 digs, and Empire 8 Player of the Year Melissa Rhode added 10 digs and 39 assists in the three-game victory.  Stevens will face top-ranked and undefeated Wittenberg in the next round.  Volk posted 14 kills and 12 digs in the Ducks’ semifinal win over Skidmore.  Laura Persico paced the Golden Flyers with 15 kills and 10 digs in the final.  The junior outside hitter registered 21 kills and 16 digs as Nazareth edged Cortland in the regional semifinal.  RIT dropped a four-game decision to Heidelberg in the tournament’s first round.  Jessica Schaffer, the first player in school history to surpass both 600 kills and 600 digs in the same season, recorded 18 digs and 11 kills in the match.  Her 629 kills are the third-highest single-season total in the program’s history, while her 616 digs rank fourth.  Ithaca won the ECAC Upstate title, its first ECAC championship since 1992.  Senior outside hitter Amanda Hubbard earned her fourth tournament Most Valuable Player honor of the season.  She finished with 28 kills, 22 digs, and three aces in the Bombers’ five-game win over Vassar in the finals.  Her 642 kills this season are the third-most in a season in the program’s history.  Senior outside hitter Andria Mynders recorded 21 kills and four aces in a four-game victory over Hartwick in the semifinals.  Christina Evans led the Hawks with 19 kills and 19 digs.