Galloway, NJ – The Montclair State volleyball team was topped by Stockton University 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 15-25, 14-25) in the season-opener for both teams Tuesday evening.
Playing for the first time in 481 days, the Red Hawks hung with the Ospreys for most of the first frame and used a 4-0 rally to take a 9-6 lead. Rookie
SKYLAR KOWALSKI notched a block and a kill during the spurt to help MSU take the lead. With Montclair leading 13-8, Stockton recorded nine of the next 10 points, forcing the visitors into a timeout. The timeout helped, and the Red Hawks pulled within a pair thanks to a serving error. They were unable to get any closer, and a service error handed set one to the Ospreys.
This time, Stockton jumped out to the early advantage, as a Julie Kohlhoff kill made the score 9-6. Trailing 10-8, the Red Hawks reeled off six straight markers, including a pair of aces from junior
DELANEY ST. PIERRE. The back-and-forth set saw ties scores at 14. 15, 16, 17, and 19 before Stockton closed out a 4-0 run with back-to-back kills to go up 21-19.
Junior
LEAH HIGGINS stopped the run with a kill, and Montclair went back in front on another service ace by St. Pierre. Higgins slammed up another kill to bring up set point, but Emily Sullivan helped Stockton fend off one set point. After an Osprey timeout, Higgins pounded home akill to give MSU their first set win of the season.
The Ospreys rebounded, scoring 11 of the first 16 points of the third stanza. Freshman
SKYLER RIZZO trimmed the deficit to six at 16-10, but MSU could get no closer as Stockton tallied nine of the last 14 points to take a 2-1 lead. MSU fell behind 12-5 in the final period but came on late to try and get back into the set. Kowalski notched a solo block,
CARLY WATERMAN notched back-to-back kills before Kowalski tallied a kill of her own to get within nine at 22-13. Stockton ended the match four points later on a kill from Haley Green.
Higgins led MSU with 12 kills while Waterman added nine. Defensively,
MADDIE VALKO led the team with 20 digs as Waterman had eight. St. Pierre handed out 22 assists while adding three aces, as Higgins matched her with three aces of her own. Charlotte Leon led Stockton with 16 kills, while Christie Louer added 13.
MSU opens their home slate on Thursday, welcoming New Jersey City University to the Panzer Athletic Center for a 7 pm matchup.
