FRANKLIN, Ind. – Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball assistant coach Mary Helak has been named the head women’s volleyball coach and assistant athletic director of Franklin College, announced Stevens head coach J.J. O’Connell. Helak recently completed a two-year stint as the Ducks’ assistant women’s volleyball coach and athletics administration assistant as part of the NCAA Division III Women and Ethnic Minority Grant Program.

LEXINGTON, K.Y. – Junior outside hitter Sarah Byrne and freshman counterpart Maggie Kowalska each added yet another postseason honor following equally impressive 2009 campaigns, earning American Volleyball Coaches Association honorable mention All-America accolades, as announced by the AVCA earlier this week. Under eight-year head coach J.J. O’Connell, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball program has now produced 10 AVCA All-America honorees over the past four seasons.

LEXINGTON, KY. – Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball junior Sarah Byrne and freshman Maggie Kowalska were recently named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-New York Region team after helping Stevens to a 26-10 overall record and its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The duo spearheaded a dynamic Stevens offense that finished the regular season ranked first in the Empire 8 in kills (12.01) and assists (11.11) and second in hitting percentage.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team fell to Christopher Newport University, 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13) in the opening round of the NCAA New York Regional hosted by New York University in New York, N.Y. The Ducks finish the season, 26-10 overall, while the Captains improved to 34-6.

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s volleyball team is primed to make its sixth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after capturing its third-straight Empire 8 Championship. Stevens, which will make its sixth-straight appearance at the New York Regional, squares off with the USA South Conference’s Christopher Newport University (33-6, 18-0 USA South) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 12 in the tournament’s opening round.