Montclair, NJ – Sophomore setter ASHLEY GRIFFITH collected 45 assists, three aces and 13 digs as Montclair State got past Rowan for its 11^th straight win with a four-set victory at the Panzer Athletic Center on Tuesday evening.

Junior HAYLEY MERRILL put down 16 kills while REBECCA MATASKER added 10 along with four blocks as the Red Hawks (16-2, 4-1 NJAC), took the first two sets 25-19, 25-22 before Rowan took the third 25-22. MSU closed out the match with a 25-21 win in the fourth.

The match featured 29 ties and 14 lead changes as Montclair captured its third consecutive win against Rowan (3-13, 2-2 NJAC), which has dropped four straight. MSU leads the all-time series 16-10.

The teams were deadlocked 9-9 in the first set before Montclair went on a six-point run for a 15-9 advantage. Matasker had two kills and Griffith two aces as the Red Hawks were also helped out by a pair of attack errors by the Profs.  Matasker's ace made the score 20-13 before Rowan was able to pull within 22-19. Matlock and Matasker went back-to-back on kills and the two combined on a block for the final point as MSU went up 1-0 with the 25-19 win.

The second set was one of big runs early as the Profs jumped out to a 7-3 lead only to see that become 9-8 Montclair State after an attack error. After MSU went in front by two, Rowan countered with four straight for a 12-11 lead. The back and forth continued and was knotted at 22-22 (15^th tie of the set) when Griffith set up Matasker for the kill and the lead. MELISSA TERPSTRA recorded a kill on the next serve before the last of six attack errors on the Profs ended the set with the Red Hawks winning 25-22.

Kailey Gallagher and Megan Jacobi had four kills each as Rowan got back into the match with a 25-22 win in the third. The Profs led 24-19 before MSU ran off three straight points to stay alive. Gallagher, who finished with eight kills, got the final point pulling Rowan within 2-1.

The fourth set was a repeat of the first three as the two stayed within striking distance of one another with nine ties and five lead changes. Rowan led 17-15 when Montclair State went on a crucial six-point run to take the lead. Merrill got the spurt going with Matlock added two kills, including one at 21-17. The teams traded the final six points of the match two at a time with Matlock nailing down the victory with back-to-back spikes.

Matlock finished with nine kills while MADISON MAUTE added eight along with a pair of blocks. Merrill and Maute hit .412 and .350, respectively for MSU which got 28 digs from libero DANIELLE OLCESE.

Montclair State returns to action on Thursday, October 6 when it heads to Baruch College for a 6:00 pm matchup against the Bearcats.