BALTIMORE, MD -- Rowan had their 2021 season come to an end as the Profs fell, 3-2 (16-25, 25-20, 12-25, 25-23, and 9-15), to Springfield in a first-round game of the NCAA Tournament Friday night. The match was played at Johns Hopkins.

The Profs fought through deficits in their two set wins helping to force a fifth and deciding set.

Rowan put together a 48-23-161 (.155) hitting line, led by 15 kills from Natalie Ogden. Cassidy Abdalla and Sydni Greenwood each added nine while Courtney Rhoden kicked in eight. The nine kills were a season-high for Greenwood.

Ogden and Brooke Adams recorded double doubles, as Ogden registered 16 digs to go with her 15 kills. Adams put up 40 assists and contributed 11 digs.

For the Pride, Camryn Bancroft led five players in double figure kills with a match-high 16. Springfield hit (.286), going 64-18-161 while adding 12 blocks total. Bancroft had five blocks (two solo) with teammate Sara Labadorf adding 46 assists and 20 digs.

Trailing 1-0, Rowan came out hot in the second set, blazing out to a 7-1 lead. Later, with a 14-10 lead, Springfield netted six-straight points to jump ahead. The Profs responded with a 6-1 run and never relinquished the lead to knot things up at 1-1.

The Pride turned an early 3-1 Rowan lead in the third into a three-point edge (8-5) to force a Prof timeout where they stayed ahead the rest of the way.

The fourth set featured eight ties and six lead changes where Rowan battled back from a 14-6 hole. Simone Sparano's ace capped a big rally to give RU an 18-17 advantage. Springfield flipped the switch with three points in a row of their own. Rowan stayed resilient, grinding back the lead with a 7-3 run to send the teams to a fifth.

In that final set, the Profs hoped a three-point swing for a 6-5 lead would hold off the Pride, but Springfield countered with three of their own to reclaim the lead, ending the night on a 7-2 run for a 15-9 score.

Rowan finishes this magical season with a final record of 27-6. #ProfsAreHot