ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Volleyball hosted former MAC Freedom rival Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks for a final regular season tune-up for each team. The Ducks (24-5), who will be the second seed in the MAC Freedom Tournament won the opening set 28-26 and held on for a four-set win. The Eagles (22-5) will host the winner of Monday's opening round match between Messiah and University in a MAC Commonwealth Semifinal on Wednesday.

With the score tied at 15 in the opening set, the Eagles built an 18-15 lead on a Bridgett Kelly kill and a pair of Aces from Grace Casagrande. The Ducks, however, had an answer. They reeled off six points in a row to flip the score. Kelly delivered another kill and then combined with Rachel Curran to close the Stevens' lead back to a single point. After the teams traded side-outs, Logan Martin tied the set at 22-22. Another two side-outs had the score at 23-23. Martin delivered another kill to set-up the first set-point. The Ducks tied the set at 24 and fought off another set point at 25-24 after a Natalie Saxton kill. Stevens scored four of the final five points to claim the set. 

The Eagles hit .375 in the second set, but the Ducks hit .483 on the way to a 25-16 win. While the Eastern hitting slowed in the third set, the Eastern defense picked things up. Grace Casagrande had eight of her 20 digs in helping the Eagles to force a fourth set with a 25-20 win. Ashley Thorsted had nine assists and a pair of kills in the third.

The Ducks put together two different six-point runs to grab a big lead in the fourth and held on to claim the match with a 25-16 win.

Martin finished with 19 kills and Curran added 10. Kelly had seven kills, seven blocks and three aces. 

"I thought we played a competitive first set in siding out with Stevens," Head Coach Mark Birtwistle said. "We had solid defensive effort. Offensively Logan has had a strong week with nearly 50 kills in 3 matches. She had 19 today and hit her best percentage of the week. Our passing overall was good. Casa continues to do a great job leading that side of the ball and recorded her 21st game with double-digit digs."

Wednesday's MAC Commonwealth Tournament match will start at 7:00 pm.