GLASSBORO, NJ -- Rowan had its 2026 season opener soured in a 3-1 decision (24-26, 25-11, 17-25, 27-29) to Franklin & Marshall Wednesday night. It was the Rowan debut for new head coach and Pro alum
Casey Burford.
The Profs hit .174 on the evening finishing with 42 kills on 132 attempts.
Jessica Smart led all attackers with a match-high 19 kills, tying a career high.
Abby Chadwick kicked in eight kills, seven digs, and six aces.
Ceci Connolly led the Diplomats with 11 kills while teammate Melissa Benkowitz added 10.
Rowan had F&M on the ropes in the first set, leading 22-19 after a kill from
Ava Best. The visitors, however, escaped, using a 6-2 spurt to go up 1-0 in the match.
The second set was all Profs as Rowan led from start to finish and had no errors on 15 attempts (10 kills). In the third, back-to-back kills from the Diplomats' Melissa Benkowitz gave F&M its first lead of the set (8-7) to which they held on to go up 2-1.
The two teams held a lead no greater than five points in the fourth set. Franklin & Marshall did not take its first lead until 27-26, getting two of the next three points to close it out.
Raven Albrecht put up 26 of the team's 39 assists.
Gabriella Cooper and
Hutton Cordrey each had 14 digs on the defensive side.
Next up for the Profs is the Marlin Invitational this weekend at Batten University in Virginia Beach, Va. Rowan takes on Saint Joseph's of Maine and William Peace on Friday before a pair of games against Wisconsin-La Crosse and Millikin on Saturday.
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