Box Score HOBOKEN, NJ – The Rowan University women's volleyball team defeated Rochester Institute of Technology, 3-1 in the New York Regional Challenge on Saturday morning.
 
The tournament was held at Stevens Institute of Technology. The set scores were 25-17, 21-25 and 27-25. Rowan was scheduled to play Nazareth College, but the match was cancelled due to a water leak in the gym. Rowan ended the regular season with a record of 15-15.
 
Middle hitter Morgan Mende (jr. Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) tallied 11 kills and five digs for Rowan. Outside hitter Danielle Havlicek (jr. Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) added nine kills. Setter Mary-Grace Testa (fr. Kearny, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) produced 17 assists, six kills and three blocks. Setter Rebecca Dantonio (so. Glen Mills, PA/Garnet Valley) collected 15 assists and five digs. Libero Jennifer Vorel (so. Madison, NJ/Madison) accumulated 17 digs.
 
For RIT, outside hitter Sarah Szybist (so. Chicago, IL/Ramstein) had 21 kills and eight digs. Setter/outside hitter Laiz Novaes (jr. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Centro Educational) and outside hitter Sara Martin (jr. Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit) each recorded 10 kills. Outside hitter/setter Emma Dowdy (so. Cocoa, FL/Edgewood) had 44 assists and libero/defensive specialist Bethany Davis (sr. Blasdell, NY/Frontier) registered 14 digs.
 
The score was tied at 13 in the first set, then Rowan scored four consecutive points for a 17-13 lead. Opposite/outside hitter Kelsey Mazurek (jr. Easton, PA/Easton Area), outside hitter Erica O'Hagan (so. Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) and Mende each had one kill. The Profs extended their advantage to 21-15 on a Mende service ace. Rowan led 23-17 and won the set on two straight attack errors by RIT.
 
In the second set, the Profs trailed 12-9, then tallied five straight points that included three service aces and a kill by Testa for a 14-12 advantage. The Tigers drew to within one (20-19), but the Profs recorded five of the final seven points to win the set. Testa and Havlicek had one kill apiece and Vorel had a service ace.
 
RIT led for most of the third set, but the score was knotted at 20. The Tigers recorded five of the last six points to take the set. Novaes produced three kills and Szybist one.
 
Rowan fell behind 9-7 in the fourth set, but used an 8-2 run to go ahead 15-11. Havlicek collected two kills, while Mende and Vorel each had one. Novaes tied the score at 16 on a kill and the scored also tied at 17 and 18. The Profs scored three straight for a 21-18 lead, but the Tigers tied the score at 21. The score was then tied at 23, 24 and 25. Kills by O'Haga and Havlicek on the final two plays gave Rowan the victory.
 
Next, #2 Rowan hosts a New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament semifinal match on Thursday, November 6 at 7 p.m. The Profs will play the winner of the first round match between #3 Kean University and #6 William Paterson University.