HOBOKEN, NJ – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team opened Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play at Stevens Institute of Technology Wednesday night at Canavan Arena, dropping the match in straight sets to the two-time defending conference champions (15-25, 18-25, 13-25).

With the loss Wilkes dropped to 1-2 overall on the season and 0-1 in the league while Stevens improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the MAC Freedom.

The Colonels gained the lead at 10-9 in the first set following an ace by Alexa Cassel (Mount Joy, PA/Lower Dauphin). The Ducks responded with six consecutive points to take a 15-10 lead and closed the set out from there with 10 of the next 15 points.

Kelsey Carroll (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) put away a kill in the second set to cut the Stevens lead to two points at 10-8 but the hosts methodically pulled away the rest of the set to win 25-18.

Stevens put away the match with an early run in the third set that the Colonels could not overcome.

Carroll led the Wilkes attack with five kills. Cassel had 15 assists. Nicole Fitzpatrick (New Hampton, NY/Minisink Valley) and Allison Murie (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) each had two blocks while Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) led the Colonels with seven digs.

Meg Dion had a match-high nine kills and four aces for the Ducks.

The Colonels remain on the road for a tri-match on Saturday in Montclair, N.J. Wilkes faces the host Montclair State University at 11:00 a.m. before finishing the day against Baruch College at 1:00 p.m.