GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University volleyball (10-7) team dropped a pair of matches at the Profs Invitational, losing to Lebanon Valley College, 3-1 and Hunter College, 3-1.
Match One vs. Lebanon Valley College: 3-1 (30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 18-25)
The Brown and Gold won a hard-fought close set to the Dutchmen, 30-28. After falling behind early, the Profs claimed a 7-6 lead on a five-point run. After the Dutchmen committed two errors, middle hitter
Lauren Horbacewicz (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) smashed down a kill. Following another Lebanon Valley error, outside hitter
Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area) recorded a kill to take a 7-6 advantage. Both sides kept the match close as the set needed extra points to decide a winner. Rowan closed out the first set 30-28, after setter
Alaina Santacroce (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) served an ace and Horbacewicz added a kill.
The Brown and Gold stumbled in the remaining three sets, as it lost the next three, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-18.
Horbacewicz led the way with 11 kills, followed by outside hitter
Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and Jacobi with nine apiece. Libero
Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA./Strath Haven) had a game-high 31 digs and outside hitter
Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) had 17 digs.
For the Dutchmen, outside hitter Jess Attieh (sr. Allentown, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) amassed 20 kills on a .475 hitting percentage. Defensive specialist Emily Smeltz (so. Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) finished the game with 29 digs.
Match Two vs. Hunter College: 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 15-25, 20-25)
In match two on the day, Rowan fell to Hunter College, 3-1. After losing the first set 25-16, the Profs retaliated in the next. After falling behind 8-4, the Brown and Gold mounted a comeback to tie the game at 12. Rowan pulled ahead 15-13, after a kill from Gallagher, a Hawks' error and a block from Horbacewicz. The Profs were tested late as Hunter tied the set at 23. The Brown and Gold locked down and scored the final two points to win, 25-23.
Rowan struggled in the following two sets falling 25-15 and 25-20, to lose the match to the Hawks.
Gallagher finished with a team-high 11 kills, while outside hitter
Alexa Gasser (so. Broomall, PA/Villa Maria Academy) and Jacobi each had eight. Setter
Tori Mock (so. Chadds Ford, PA/Archmere Academy) and Santacroce accounted for 17 assists apiece. Keegan totaled 31 digs on the match.
For the Hawks, outside hitter Taylor Haiduk (sr. Bellmore, NY/John F. Kennedy) and opposite hitter Emily Wasson (so. Los Angeles, CA/La Salle) recorded 15 kills apiece. Setter Miranda Hogan (sr. Bayshore, NY/Bay Shore) dished out 39 assists.
The Rowan volleyball team travels to Montclair State University on Tuesday, Sept. 25, with the match slated to start at 7 p.m.
