ELIZABETHTOWN, PA – The Rowan University volleyball team split its final day at the Blue Jay Classic on Saturday, Sept.15, winning 3-0 against Eastern Mennonite University and falling 3-0 to Elizabethtown College. The Profs post a 9-4 record on the season. 
 
Match One vs. Eastern Mennonite: 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 33-31)
 
Rowan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set with back-to-back kills from outside hitter Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and middle hitter Jamie Shirtz (sr. Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham), followed by an ace from setter Tori Mock (so. Chadds Ford, PA/Archmere Academy). The Royals battle back to claim a 6-5 advantage over the Profs. Both teams kept the game close for the remainder of the set, but Rowan was able to edge out Eastern Mennonite, 25-23. 
 
The Brown and Gold trailed midway through the second set, 10-6. Rowan picked up the pace and rallied off seven consecutive points to pull ahead, 13-10. Outside hitter Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) scored the first point, followed by Shirtz with a kill. After an ace from libero Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) and three errors by the Royals, Shirtz added another point to end the seven-point swing. Rowan held onto the lead to win the set, 25-23. 
 
Both teams went toe-to-toe in the final set, as the game had to be decided in extra points. The Royals took a large 18-9 advantage over the Profs in the third. The Brown and Gold locked in and erased the deficit to eventually tie the game at 23. Each side traded points, but it was Rowan who held onto a 33-31 victory. 
 
Shirtz led the offense with 11 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, while Keegan ended with 10, a .444 hitting percentage and 18 digs. Setter Alaina Santacroce (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) dished 18 assists, where Mock racked up 19. 
 
Match Two vs. Elizabethtown College: 0-3 (13-25, 15-25, 18-25) 
 
In the deciding championship match, Rowan lost in three straight sets to the host Elizabethtown, 3-0. The Profs fell behind in the opening set, 16-7 and couldn't recover as they lost, 25-13. 
 
Elizabethtown opened with a five-point run in the second to draw an early advantage. The Profs stumbled as its deficit grew, 19-8. The Brown and Gold gave one last push as they earned five straight points to trail, 19-13. Gallagher and Shirtz teamed up for an assisted block, followed by two kills from Gallagher and another block from Shirtz and Keegan. Rowan kept battling hard but fell, 25-15. 
 
The Brown and Gold jumped out to an 3-0 lead in the final set, complements of Keegan and two Blue Jays' errors. Rowan maintained the lead and pulled away, 11-6, after scoring three straight points. Outside hitter Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) started the run with a kill, followed by outside hitter Natalie Ogden (fr. Downingtown, PA/Bishop Shanahan) with an ace and an Elizabethtown error. Rowan found some trouble late, as the Blue Jays claimed a 16-13 after a four-point swing. Middle hitter Mackenzie Garner (sr. Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon) recorded a kill and a block, followed by an ace from defensive specialist Katie Kennedy (sr. Lafayette Hill, PA/Plymouth). Rowan attempted to reclaim the lead late, but fell to the Blue Jays, 25-18.
 
Gallagher and Jacobi paced the offense with seven kills apiece. For the Blue Jays, Garner ended the match with a game-high 16 kills on a .700 hitting percentage. 
 
Due to her outstanding play, Keegan was named to the All-Tournament team. 
 
The Rowan volleyball team travels to New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Ramapo College on Tuesday, Sept. 18, with the match slated to start at 7 p.m.