Center Valley, PA (November 6, 2021) - The DeSales University volleyball fell to Stevens, 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 25-27, 25-19), in a hard fought MAC Freedom Championship match on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.

The Basics

• Final Score: Stevens - 3, DeSales - 1 (22-25, 15-25, 27-25, 19-25)
• Records: DeSales (19-13 Overall); Stevens (26-5 overall)
• Stevens earns the MAC Freedom's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament which will be announced on Monday afternoon.
• The Bulldogs season ends with a 19-13 overall record.

How it Happened

• The first set was back-and-forth the entire way with nine ties and three lead changes with the last tie coming at 22-all.
• Tied at 22, Stevens scored three straight points on a tip kill, another kill to make it 24-22, and a service ace after a Bulldog timeout to close out the first set.
• The second set was all Ducks as the Bulldogs hit negative for the set.
• DSU scored just two points on its own serve and fell behind early trailing 5-1.
• The third set was another tight affair that featured nine ties and six lead changes.
• The Bulldogs faced match point four times but refused to back down, tying the match at 24, and again at 25 before a block assist from junior Caroline Garretson and Grace Grandinetti and service ace on the next point from junior Delanie Zohler force a fourth set, 27-25.
• The fourth set saw four ties and four lead changes early and DeSales trailing 11-10 mid-way through the set.
• Stevens took control from there scoring seven straight points including two service aces at the start of the rally and never looked back to close out the match.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Garretson and sophomore Shannon McDevitt led DeSales with 10 kills each.
• Grandinetti finished with 31 assists and 14 digs.
• First-year Mykenah Calder had six kills and led the team with 15 digs.
• Zohler chipped in with seven kills and nine digs.

For the Foes

• Lizzie Chu was named the postseason tournament Most Valuable Player totaling 22 digs.
• Liz Patterson led the Ducks with 15 kills and had three blocks.
• Ava Smithing and Parker Adkins each had 11 kills.
• Smithing and Megan Dion each totaled five blocks.

Inside the Box Score

• DSU hit .116 for the match.
• The Ducks had nine service aces and 10 team blocks.