ASTON, PA – The Rowan University volleyball team fell to Neumann University, 3-1 on Friday. 
 
The Profs are now 17-14 on the year, while the Knights move to 15-13.
 
Rowan stumbled in the opening set falling to Neumann, 25-21. The Brown and Gold bounced back in the next stanza. The Profs jumped out to a 3-0 lead using a kill from middle hitter Jamie Shirtz (sr. Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham), a Knights error and a point from outside hitter Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area). Each side kept the score close throughout the set until the Profs scored back-to-back points to take a 23-21 advantage. Opposite hitter Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and Shirtz notched the final two kills to win, 25-22. 
 
The Profs built a large 22-13 lead throughout the third frame. The Knights mounted a comeback to tie the game at 23. Each side traded points before middle hitter Ariana Pena (fr. Dumont, NJ/Dumont) and outside hitter Melanie Malseed (jr. Milmont Park, PA/Ridley) tallied a kill apiece to take the set, 26-24. 
 
Rowan went to battle against Neumann in the final set. The Profs fell behind early 7-2, but they notched five straight points to tie the game at seven.  Middle hitter Lauren Horbacewicz (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) and Gallagher scored the first two points, followed by back-to-back errors by the Knights and a kill from opposite hitter Alexa Gasser (so. Broomall, PA/Villa Maria Academy). The Brown and Gold slipped for the remainder of the set, as they eventually lost the match, 25-14. 
 
Jacobi led the offense with 11 kills, followed by Gallagher with 10 kills on a .321 hitting percentage. Setter Tori Mock (so. Chadds Ford, PA/Archmere Academy (DE)) paced the offense with 25 assists. Libero Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) ended the match with 15 digs and outside hitter Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) racked up 12. 
 
The Rowan Volleyball team travels to Cabrini University tomorrow, Oct. 27, with the match slated to start at 2 p.m.