NJAC Championship Highlights

GLASSBORO, NJ -- The Rowan volleyball team defeated Kean, 3-1, in the 2022 NJAC Championship as the Profs claimed the conference title for the second year in a row. Set scores were 25-23, 18-25, 25-19, and 25-21.

The Profs, who won their eighth NJAC Championship in program history, earn the NJAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Selections will be unveiled on Monday at 1 p.m. at NCAA.com.

Natalie Ogden led all attackers with a match-high 18 kills and added 11 digs for her 14th double double on the year. Rookie Jena Kaul added 11 kills, with six coming in the decisive fourth set. Vanessa Hutchinson collected 16 digs for top team honors and tied a season high with five aces.

Rowan had to rally late in the first set as the Cougars led 19-16. After a Prof timeout, the home team ran off a 6-1 spurt to force Kean into a timeout. Odgen's kill put the Profs up 1-0 with a 25-23 score. The second set saw Rowan fall behind early as Kean stayed a step ahead throughout to even things up at a set apiece.

The third set featured an 12-2 Rowan run that shot the home team out to a big lead. Kean trailed 24-13 at one point and tried to climb back, getting six-straight points to pull within 24-19, but Kaul made sure there would not be a seventh point in a row as her kill made it 2-1.

In the fourth, Rowan got out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a pair of aces from Hutchinson. The Profs held that lead as Kean tried to keep it close, the last coming with 23-21. After a block from Courtney Rhoden and Isabel Kirchner for championship point, Kaul again gave the final strike and the conference title.

For Kean, Anne Beckemeyer totaled 16 kills with eight blocks and an ace. Sian Seeger contributed a game-high 25 digs and kicked in three aces.