Box Score WAYNE, NJ – The Rowan University women's volleyball team came up with a huge 3-0 sweep at William Paterson University in the final New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) match of the season on Tuesday.
The Profs (12-16) cemented a spot in the NJAC Championship Tournament with the victory. They finish with a 4-4 conference record and will be the fifth seed in the NJAC playoffs. Rowan will travel to the fourth seed Montclair State University for a first round match on Tuesday, October 31 at 7 p.m. The Pioneers are 16-9 overall and end the conference schedule with a 2-6 mark.
The set scores were 25-17, 25-20 and 25-20. Outside hitters
Megan Jacobi (so. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) and
Taylor Modica (fr. Newark, DE/Appoquinimink) recorded 12 kills apiece. Setters
Katelyn Paxson (so. Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) and
Tori Mock (fr. Chadds Ford, PA/Archmere Academy (DE)) produced 25 and 18 assists respectively. Middle hitter
Erin Keegan (jr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) tallied eight digs and four service aces. Outside hitter/right side
Kristin Akin (jr. Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) and defensive specialist/libero
Amy Staiber (so. Morton, PA/Ridley) each contributed with seven digs.
William Paterson middle hitter/outside hitter Alyson Toman (so. Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) registered five digs while outside hitter Amanda Lembo (jr. North Haledon, NJ/DePaul Catholic) and middle hitter Chelliah Phillips (jr. Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) added four apiece. Setter Kendall Caruso (jr. Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) amassed 18 assists. Libero Julianna Ginefra (sr. Springfield, NJ/Jonathan Dayton) chipped in with 11 digs.
The score was tied at 12 in the opening set before the Profs went on a 7-2 run. Outside hitter/opposite
Kailey Gallagher (so. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) produced three kills to help Rowan gain a 19-14 lead. The Pioneers cut the deficit to three (20-17) but the Profs posted the next five points to take the set. Keegan had back-to-back service aces for the final two points.
In the second frame, Rowan had a 9-7 advantage before distancing itself with five consecutive points. Keegan recorded two more service aces in the rally. The Profs would go on to win the set on a William Paterson error.
Rowan jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the final stanza. The Pioneers cut the margin to one (5-4) before an 8-1 surge by the Profs. William Paterson did not come closer than four points for the rest of the match.
Next, the women's volleyball team heads to Rochester, NY for the New York Regional Challenge. Rowan takes on SUNY Fredonia on Friday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
