BALTIMORE, MD - Visiting Stevenson University registered 17 service aces and used a balanced attack en route to handing College of Notre Dame a 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-14) opening night loss Tuesday evening at the MBK Complex.

The Gators hung around the Mustang attack early on in the match, keeping pace until the visitors went on a 12-3 run to close out the first set of the evening. Game two provided more drama as Notre Dame broke the score open to 15-11 after junior India Scott (Baltimore/Baltimore Poly) put down one of her three kills of the evening. Stevenson was able to rebound quickly and responded with a 10-0 run led by two service aces by Avery Gabbard. The Mustangs were able to close out the rest of the second set for a 25-17 score.

Much like the first set, Notre Dame was able to keep up with Stevenson in the third set early, pushing the score to 10-9 in the Mustangs favor. But once again the Mustangs went on another run, this time a 10-2 streak to distance themselves from Notre Dame, leading to the 25-14 third set win and sweep of the home team.

Junior setter Christina Kudrna (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) handed out 14 assists for Notre Dame while also adding three blocks. Junior Ebony Rivers (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) pounded down a team-high six kills for the Gators. Freshman Whitney Nixon (Baltimore/Dundalk) notched a kill along with an ace and a dig in her collegiate volleyball debut.

Stevenson was led by Avery Gabbard and her game-high eight kills and six service aces. Amy Rudolph added 25 assists while Marisa Bender had six kills for the victors.

Notre Dame hit a collective -.035 has a team for the evening while Stevenson hit for a .222 percentage.

The Gators are winless against the Mustangs, a stretch of five matches, dating back to October 10, 2006.

Notre Dame returns to action this Saturday when they compete in a tri-match against Marymount and Trinity (DC) held on the campus of Marymount at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. The Gators return home the following Saturday when they play host to Shenandoah, Kean and Trinity (DC).