SAN JUAN, PR -- Rowan ended its stay at the 2024 Puerto Rico Clasico with two tough defeats on Saturday. In the day's first match, the Profs lost 3-0 to North Park, then the squad fell in a five-set matchup with Ohio Wesleyan, 3-2.

Profs vs. North Park
North Park registered a .243 hitting percentage (40-13-111) en route to the three-set (15-25, 19-25, 22-25) decision. Jena Kaul and Abby Chadwick led Rowan with seven kills apiece. Ava Best added five kills, four blocks (two solo), three digs and an ace.

Adriana Rodriguez paced North Park with 16 kills and added 14 digs for a double-double. Rodriguez, Kharlie Simeona-French, and Carilina Aviles each chipped in three aces.

A late 8-2 run by the Vikings in the first set broke a 10-10 tie score. Rowan pulled within 19-15 before Rodriguez served up back-to-back aces to cap a 6-0 spurt to put North Park up, 1-0. The second set saw the Profs get into trouble early and tried to use a big 16-3 stretch to get within 22-19, but could pull no closer. North Park would connect on 17 kills in the third set to help seal the 3-0 outcome.

Profs vs. Ohio Wesleyan
Rowan looked to erase 2-0 deficit by forcing a fifth and deciding set but came out on the wrong end of a 3-2 (18-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-18, 11-15) defeat to the Bishops.

Isabel Kirchner was a kill shy of tying a career-high as the senior led the Profs with 13. Vanessa Hutchinson kicked in 26 digs, a personal-best seven assists, and three aces. Brooke Adams nearly missed a double-double, registering 25 assists and nine digs.

Ohio Wesleyan's Natalie Dieball led all attackers with 24 kills and a team-best four aces.

After falling behind in the first two sets, the Profs worked through eight ties and five lead changes in the third set to get on the board. An 11-3 start to the fourth set, kept the team ahead the rest of the way to force a fifth.

Dieball put down five kills in the fifth as the Bishops ran out to an 8-3 lead. A late push from the Profs made things close (12-10), but ultimately fell a bit short.

The team will play its home opener next Saturday, September 7th in a tri-match with Widener and Drew. The first match pits the Profs against the Pride beginning at 10 a.m. in Esbjornson Gymnasium.