GALLOWAY TWP., NJ – The Rowan volleyball team's run in the NJAC Championship Tournament came to an end in the final, as the second-seeded Profs fell to top-seeded Stockton, 3-1, at the Stockton Sports Center.
 
The loss ended Rowan's six-match winning streak and was only their second loss in the last 10 matches to give them a record of 19-15, while they had entered the week with their first-ever NCAA Regional ranking, at 10th.  
 
Sophomore Natalie Ogden led the Profs with 15 kills with senior Megan Jacobi recording 11 kills. Senior Kailey Gallagher posted nine kills and setter Tori Mock handed out 42 assists. Simone Sparano had 23 digs while Mock added 17 for Rowan.
 
Rowan trailed the entire first set and by as much as 16-9 in the early going, but made a run to pull within 19-18. The Profs forced the first tie at 23-23, and then took their first lead, 26-25, en route to winning the set, 27-25.
 
The Profs trailed again at the start of the second set, 7-3, but fought back to take a 10-8 lead. The teams went back-and-forth, with neither leading by more than a point until Stockton took a 20-18 lead before closing out the set, 25-22.
 
Stockton (30-3) had control throughout the entire third set, leading by as much as 20-10 to eventually win, 25-13.
 
The teams were tied 10-10 in the fourth, but the Ospreys pulled away, going up by 19-13. Rowan fought to stay alive but Stockton built on a 23-18 lead to close out the match and the championship, 25-19.
 
"I could not be more proud of the season this team had. They have so much to be proud of and all they accomplished. They were determined and driven and they understood and valued what being a 'team' means. They stood beside and behind each other every step of the way and trusted that we could create something special," said head coach Deana Jespersen.
 
Stockton earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament and the Profs would have to be granted an at-large bid when the selections are announced on Monday, November 11 at 12:30 p.m.