HOBOKEN, NJ – The Alfred University women's volleyball team loss to Empire 8 foe, Stevens Institute of Technology, 0-3 on Friday evening in the conference-opener.
 
The Saxons (0-9, 0-1 Empire 8) fell to the Ducks with set scores of 10-25, 17-25 and 20-25. The Ducks are receiving national-ranking votes. "I think we came out and executed what we had scouted against Stevens to the best of our ability and I'm happy to see that," head coach Dakota Pruiss said.
 
The Saxons' third and closest set got off to a great start as sophomore Mikala McCartney (Buffalo, NY/St. Mary's) opened as the server. Alfred University got on the board early with back-to-back kills from sophomore Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) and assists from senior setter, Aubrey Totsline (Fairport, NY/Fairport) for the 2-0 lead. After a Stevens attack error from Taleen Mitchell, McCartney finished the 4-0 run with an ace (reception error on Sydni Horner for the Ducks).
 
The Saxons' last lead in the third set was after an error by Stevens' Olivia Poplawski followed by an ace from junior Elisabeth Estep (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads),making it a 16-15 Saxon lead in the final set. Stevens closed out the set and match with a 10-4 run.
 
Smith led the Saxons in scoring with eight points from eight kills. Totsline had 21 assists while Estep and Smith both added team-high digs of seven. Totsline and senior Jacquelynn Hicks (Greenville, NY/Greenville) both led with block assist of two each while senior Madison VanEtten (Harpursville, NY/Harpursville Central) and first-year Sarah Raeman (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) both had one block assist.
 
The Saxons will next take the short ride to New York City for a tri-match at Hunter College on Saturday, September 16. They will open up non-conference action against Purchase College at 10am and finish with a match against the hosts at 2pm.