Highlights

GLASSBORO, NJ -- Rowan punched its ticket to the NJAC Championship for the second-consecutive season as the top-seeded Profs defeated Montclair State, 3-1, in a semifinal matchup Thursday night at Esbjornson Gymnasium. Set scores were 21-25, 25-12, 25-20, and 25-20.

The Profs will take on Kean in the NJAC Championship here on Saturday in a 2 p.m. start. The fourth-seeded Cougars clipped second-seeded Stockton in three sets to move on to the title game.

Offensively, Natalie Ogden and Jena Kaul totaled 11 kills each. Defensively, the team put down a season-high 12 blocks as Courtney Rhoden and Isabel Kirchner teamed up for eight block assists apiece. Ogden (11 kills/18 digs) joined setter Brooke Adams (38 assists/10 digs) in shelling out a double double.

The Red Hawks took the first set in part due to a late 7-0 run to win 25-21. The Profs returned the favor in the second, turning a 12-8 lead into a 17-8 score capped with a big solo block from Rhoden. Sydni Greenwood notched back-to-back kills to help the home team even things up at a set each.

Rowan opened up a tight affair in the third, thanks to a huge 7-0 swing that erased a 14-11 Montclair lead. Rhoden's kill put the finishing touches for a 25-20 score and a two-sets-to-one edge.

The Profs rode the momentum into the fourth set, getting out to a 4-0 lead after back-to-back blocks from Kirchner and Rhoden. The advantage swelled to 20-10 before the Red Hawks tried to claw back in it, fighting off match point four times, but Ogden's kill was the final strike in the four-set victory.