ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY – The Rowan University volleyball team fell to SUNY New Paltz, 3-1 in the first match of the Hudson Valley Quad on Friday.
The Profs are now 14-12 on the year, while the Hawks are 19-4.
The Brown and Gold trailed early, 4-1 in the opening set. The Profs picked up the pace to claim a 10-9 advantage, after a five-point rally. Outside hitter
Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) started the run with a kill, followed by three straight New Paltz's errors. Middle hitter
Jamie Shirtz (sr. Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham) earned the final point when she smashed down a kill. Both teams kept the score close before Rowan posted a slight 18-16 edge after it scored three consecutive points. Outside hitter
Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) notched the first point, followed by a pair of kills from middle hitter
Lauren Horbacewicz (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) and Keegan. The Brown and Gold faced some adversity late but held on the lead to win, 25-22.
The Profs went to battle in the second stanza against the Hawks. New Paltz pulled ahead, 10-8 after an ace from outside hitter Taylor Cimillo (sr. Airmont, NY/Suffern) and a kill from outside hitter Madison Van Pelt (jr. Montgomery, NY/Valley Central). The Brown and Gold battled back for the remainder of the set, but could not take the lead as it fell, 25-15.
Rowan fought hard in the final two frames but dropped both 25-17 and 25-19 to lose the match.
Opposite hitter
Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) led the offense with 11 kills on a .308 hitting percentage, followed by Shirtz with nine. Setter
Tori Mock (so. Chadds Ford, PA/Archmere Academy (DE)) and setter
Alaina Santacroce (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) paced the Profs as they handed out 21 and 16 assists respectively. Libero
Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) and Keegan amassed 18 digs apiece.
For New Paltz, outside hitter Julie Greenspan (so. Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) registered 14 kills, while middle hitter Kerri Neville (jr. Commack, NY/Commack) and Cimillo notched 12 each.
The Rowan volleyball team is back in action tomorrow Saturday, Oct. 13, when it faces Bard University at 12 p.m. and Morrisville State College at 2:30 p.m.
