Center Valley, PA (October 26, 2021) - The DeSales University volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win in thrilling fashion, 3-2, over Stevens in MAC Freedom action on Tuesday evening to clinch the top seed in next week's MAC Freedom postseason tournament.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 3, Stevens - 2 (22-25, 27-25, 14-25, 25-17, 17-15)
• Records: DeSales (16-11, 7-0 MAC Freedom); Stevens (22-5, 6-1 MAC Freedom)
• The Bulldogs move into sole possession of first place with one match remaining, at Delaware Valley University on Thursday.
• DSU will be the top seed in the postseason for the fourth time in MAC Freedom postseason history.

How it Happened

• The Bulldogs lost a tight opening set, 25-22, trailing throughout after SIT hit .222 for the set.
• The second set featured 10 ties and three lead changes as the Bulldogs rallied late, taking the set on the third set point on an ace from junior Caroline Garretson.
• A close start to the third set saw the Ducks pull away mid-way thru as SIT hit .308 with just three hitting errors in the third set.
• DSU led 9-5 in the fourth set when the hosts rallied off 12 of the next 16 points to take a 21-9 lead and never looked back to force a fifth set.
• Down 8-6 in the fifth set, SIT scored four of the next five points to take a 12-7 lead.
• The Bulldogs rallied with six of the next seven points to the set at 13 and then fought off a set point from the Ducks to tie the score at 14.
• A ball handling error from the Ducks gave DSU a set point but Stevens fought it off.
• Another bad set from the Ducks gave DeSales a 17-16 lead and sophomore Shannon McDevitt blocked a Stevens attack attempt to clinch the win.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Garretson was outstanding finishing with 18 kills, hitting .341, adding three aces, and totaling six blocks.
• Sophomore Grace Grandinetti finished with 30 assists, four kills, and 12 digs.
• Junior Delanie Zohler was equally terrific on the attack with 14 kills, hitting .225.
• Sophomore Alyson Maddalone and senior Georgia Traynor each had 10 digs.
• Junior McKenzie Brady finished with 11 digs and four aces.

For the Foes

• Stevens had four players with double digit kills including Parker Adkins (17), Cleo Shannon (14), Elle Maggio (14), and Liz Patterson (13).
• Elizabeth Chu finished with 28 digs.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales hit .172 for the match and had nine team blocks.
• Stevens hit .210 and also had nine team blocks.
• The Bulldogs had 12 aces.

Up Next

• DSU wraps up the MAC Freedom schedule at Delaware Valley on Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 pm.