GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University volleyball lost in a hard-fought battle against Stockton University in its first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) match, 3-1. The Profs are 6-3 overall (0-1 NJAC) and the Ospreys move to 6-3 (1-0 NJAC).
 
Both teams went toe-to-toe throughout the night, as two of the four sets were decided with extra points. Each side was neck-in-neck, as there was no lead larger than two-points. Stockton pulled away, 18-14, as it scored five straight in the first set. After two errors from Rowan, outside hitter Caity Ullmer (fr. Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) teed off two kills followed by one from middle hitter Franceska Gustave (so. Edgewater, NJ/Leonia). The Profs retaliated to tie the game at 20. Outside hitter Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) started the comeback with a kill and it ended with outside hitter Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) hammering down two points. The Brown and Gold held a slight advantage, 24-23, but the Ospreys scored the next three points to win set one, 26-24.
 
Rowan and Stockton kept the intensity high in the next set, as both sides traded points back-and-fourth. The Profs pulled ahead, 18-14, after outside hitter Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) tallied three kills and Keegan added one. The Brown and Gold closed out the second, 25-23, on a kill from Jacobi. 
 
Stockton took an early lead over the Profs in the third, 7-3. Right side hitter Allie Desmond (sr. Ellicot City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) added two kills, while middle hitter Julie Kohlhoff (so. West Islip, NY/West Islip) notched one. The Brown and Gold rallied to tie the game at seven. After three straight Osprey errors, opposite hitter Alexa Gasser (so. Broomall, PA/Villa Maria Academy) blocked Gustave for the tying point. Stockton picked up the pace to eventually run away with the third set, winning 25-17.
 
The Profs started hot as they took a 4-1 lead in the final set. Middle hitter Jamie Shirtz (sr. Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham) started things off with a kill, then Keegan and Gallagher each hit one down. Rowan stayed in control and held a strong lead until late in the fourth. After the Brown and Gold posted a 24-18 lead, Stockton mounted a full comeback to tie the game at 24. Both teams traded the next few points to keep each side at a stalemate.  The Ospreys finally won the last set with an ace from Gustave to win, 30-28.
 
Gallagher led the Rowan offense with 12 kills, followed by Jacobi with 10 and a .273 hitting percentage. Setter Tori Mock (so. Chadds Fords, PA/Archmere Academy) dished out 26 assists, while setter Alaina Santacroce (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) ended with 17. 
 
Libero Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) stood strong in the back row racking up 26 digs, followed by Keegan with 18. 
 
Desmond for Stockton finished with a game-high 19 kills and a .298 hitting percentage. 
 
The Rowan volleyball team hits the road as it travels to the Blue Jay Classic on, Friday Sept. 14, with its first match at 5 p.m. against Cairn University.