GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University volleyball team season comes to an end in the semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament, losing to Kean University 3-0. 
 
The Profs wrap their season up with a 17-16 record, while the Cougars advance to the conference finals with a mark of 18-15. 
 
In the other semifinal game, # 4 Montclair State University had a 3-1 win over #1 Stockton. The third seeded Cougars will host the Red Hawks on Saturday, Nov. 3 for the conference final. The NJAC champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
 
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the opening stanza as each side traded the first few points to set the score at six all. Rowan stumbled as Kean rallied off six straight points to take a 12-6 advantage. The Brown and Gold buckled down scoring three straight to cut the deficit to 12-9. Opposite hitter Alexa Gasser (so. Broomall, PA/Villa Maria Academy), outside hitter Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) and middle hitter Jamie Shirtz (sr. Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham) all recorded a kill during the run. The Cougars picked up the intensity as they scored eight of the final nine points to win set one, 25-15. 
 
The Profs jumped out to an 8-5 lead in the second set after notching four consecutive points. The rally was ignited by a block from middle hitter Lauren Horbacewicz (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) and Gasser, followed by three straight aces from defensive specialist Kristin Akin (sr. Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon). Rowan slipped as Kean strung together the next eight out of nine points to post a 13-9 advantage. Middle hitter Jesse Larkin (jr. Redwood City, CA/Woodside) started the run with a point, to then have middle hitter Zoe Strozewski (so. Mount Prospect, IL/John Hersey) and opposite hitter Cailyn Ross (fr. Whitefish, MO/Whitefish) tally back-to-back kills and Larkin serve a pair of aces. The final three points of the swing came on a kill from Strozewski, Ross and setter Brianna Calvano (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown). The Profs fought back and earned two kills from opposite hitter Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and outside hitter Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) to trail, 17-14. The Cougars held onto their lead for the rest of the set to win, 25-19. 
 
The Brown and Gold started hot in the final stanza taking a 5-2 advantage. The Profs benefitted from a Kean error and a kill from Shirtz. The next three points came on a Cougars' error and back-to-back kills from Horbacewicz. Rowan remained ahead until midway through the set when Kean scored four straight to take a 15-14 lead. The Profs answered with two points off another Cougars' error and an ace from setter Alaina Santacroce (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) to reclaim a 16-15 advantage. Both sides added four points each to set the score at 20-19 with Rowan still ahead. Kean produced three points to pull ahead, 22-20. Gallagher responded with a kill to cut the deficit to 22-21. The Cougars locked down and edged the Profs late to win the match, 25-22.
 
Shirtz finished with a team-high six kills and two blocks, followed by Gallagher and Horbacewicz with five apiece. Setter Tori Mock (so. Chadds Ford, PA/Archmere Academy (DE)) paced the offense with 13 assists and Santacroce dished eight. Keegan amassed 11 digs, followed by libero Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) with eight. 
 
For the Cougars, outside hitter Vikki Stec (sr. Elmwood Park, NJ/Elmwood Park Mem.) notched 14 kills and Ross registered nine. Larkin added seven kills and racked up eight blocks. 
 
This concludes the Rowan volleyball season, but it returns a wealth of talent in its chase for a NJAC Championship next season.