Montclair, NJ – Sophomore CARLY WATERMAN recorded 28 kills and 26 digs as Montclair State picked up a pair of victories knocking off Merchant Marine and in-state rival Stevens at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday.

The Red Hawks (3-2) were four-set winners against USMMA taking the match 25-12, 23-25, 25-20 and 24-26. MSU then swept past the Ducks (2-3) 25-22, 25-18, 25-23 for its first victory against Stevens since September 30, 1995. Montclair had lost eight straight to Stevens, including four-set losses in each of the last two seasons.

Waterman had 16 kills and nine digs as Montclair jumped out to 3-0 lead versus the Mariners in the first set and led 15-5 following a nine-point run. Waterman pushed the lead to 20-9 with a ball-handling error on set point giving MSU the 1-0 lead in the match.

After dropping the second set, Montclair found itself down 5-0 in the third before climbing back into the set and taking an 11-9 lead on a Mariners' miscue. The Red Hawks led 21-19 before ripping off three in a row the last coming on a service error by MEGAN O'ROURKE. USMMA held off one point but O'Rourke dropped one over the net clinching the 25-20 win.

In the fourth, MSU trailed 15-10 but closed the gap with a four-point run. The Red Hawks fell behind 24-23 before closing out the set and match with the final three points. O'Rourke set up SCHYLER WHITE for the first point and the two combined again as Montclair took the lead. CAITLIN LANGE finished off match with her 12^th kill.

O'Rourke posted 42 assists along with five digs and four blocks. LEAH HIGGINS had eight kills and VICTORIA TENNON seven. SIYARA HERBERT led the way with 13 digs with KATELYN MONAGHAN adding three aces and six digs.

Against Stevens, Montclair turned a 20-19 deficit into a 23-20 lead on a kill by Waterman. The Ducks closed within a point however two straight attack errors gave Montclair State a 25-22 victory in the first set.

The Red Hawks trailed 7-4 before Waterman served 10 straight points capped by an ace for a 14-7 MSU advantage. Lange had two kills in a five-point spurt increasing the lead 21-12. Stevens registered six of the nine point however an attack error by the Ducks on set point put MSU up 2-0 in the match.

The third set would go back and forth and was tied 20-20. Freshman libero MADDIE VALKO picked up a kill and another by Higgins gave Montclair a two-point lead. The Ducks answered with two straight and the teams traded point putting the set at 23-all. Lange put the Red Hawks within a point of the match which ended as Lange combined with Tennon on a block.

Waterman led with 12 kills while JILLIAN WILSON and Higgins each getting seven. Lange (four blocks) and Tennon posted six apiece. O'Rourke totaled 31 assists with Waterman and Valko finishing with 17 and 13 digs respectively.

Montclair State returns to the court on Wednesday, September 7 with a road contest in Riverdale, NY against College of Mount St. Vincent with first serve set for 7:00 pm.