Stevenson University women’s volleyball defeated Messiah, 3-1, in MAC Commonwealth action on October 7, 2026, at Owings Mills Gymnasium in Owings Mills, Md. The Mustangs won by set scores of 26-24, 19-25, 25-18 and 28-26 to secure their third conference victory of the season.
Rachel Lenz led Stevenson with 14 kills. Maren Zepfel added 13 kills while hitting .400, and Sydney Salazar contributed 12 kills with a .417 hitting percentage.
Stevenson University women’s volleyball rallies in opening set
Stevenson built an 18-13 advantage in the opening set behind kills from Sydney Salazar, Rachel Lenz and Maren Zepfel. Messiah answered with an 8-1 run to take a 20-19 lead, but Logan Burge’s kill put Stevenson back in front at 21-20.
Zepfel added a kill for a 23-21 advantage before Messiah tied the set at 24-24. Salazar responded with a kill, and a Messiah attack error gave Stevenson the 26-24 win.
Messiah controlled the second set and earned a 25-19 victory to even the match. Stevenson answered in the third set by taking an early 4-1 lead and extending the margin to 11-5 before Messiah pulled within 12-11.
The Mustangs responded with a 6-2 run. Lillianna Hornickle and Emma Shaffer helped Stevenson build an 18-14 lead with a block, and Stevenson closed the set on a 5-0 run capped by a Zepfel kill.
Fourth set includes 13 ties
The fourth set featured 13 ties and three lead changes. Stevenson held an 11-8 lead and later moved ahead 18-16 before Messiah tied the set at 24-24.
Salazar gave Stevenson a 25-24 lead with a kill, and a Messiah error helped the Mustangs take a 26-25 advantage. After Messiah tied the set again, Lenz delivered a kill to put Stevenson within one point of the match, and Declyn Tooze sealed the 28-26 victory with a service ace.
Stevenson University women’s volleyball statistical leaders
Hornickle finished with four kills on five attacks and four block assists, while Logan Burge added three kills and two blocks. Tooze recorded 16 assists, and Courtney Foose contributed 21 assists.
Isabella Terra led Stevenson with 10 digs. Lenz added eight digs, and Lilly Eichelberger had 13 digs as Stevenson finished with 50 kills, a .258 hitting percentage, 46 digs, seven service aces and eight total team blocks.
Stevenson University women’s volleyball hosts October 10 tri-match
Stevenson University women’s volleyball is scheduled to host Salisbury University and Susquehanna University in a tri-match on October 10, 2026. Stevenson is scheduled to face Salisbury University at 11:30 a.m. and Susquehanna University at 1:30 p.m.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Stevenson University women’s volleyball responded to its second-set loss by taking control of the third set and surviving a closely contested fourth set. Lenz, Zepfel and Salazar combined for 39 kills, while Stevenson added eight total team blocks and seven service aces.
Tooze’s service ace completed the 28-26 fourth-set win and secured Stevenson’s third MAC Commonwealth victory of the season.
Source: Original report
