Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University volleyball team split a home tri-match, losing to New Paltz in four sets before sweeping Desales.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The back-and-forth first period saw several ties early before a 12-1 spurt by the Hawks opened up a double-digit lead. An EMILY FERRI service ace trimmed the deficit to 23-12, but the Hawks claimed the first frame 25-13.
• Trailing 9-6 in the second stanza, KATIE RODMAN delivered three straight points to level things at nine. Montclair grabbed a lead on a SOPHIA LOPEZ service ace, and a solo block from LILY THOMAS extended the lead to 19-15.
• The guests closed to within one at 20-19 before Montclair tallied four of the following markers, including three kills from SKYE RAMSEY, to bring up set point. The Hawks fended one off, but an attack error tied the match at one frame each.
• Two kills from RACHEL CURRAN helped Montclair to a 3-0 lead in the third before NADYA ACKERMANIAN slammed home a kill to stretch the gap to 7-3. New Paltz rebounded and broke the game open with an 8-2 spurt.
• Montclair closed to within three on the heels of a 5-1 run with ADDISON CASTLES serving, but the Hawks tallied three of the final four markers to go up 2-1. A service error in set four made the score 7-6 New Paltz, but a service ace from EMILY CARCICH trimmed the deficit to three at 13-10.
• A 9-3 New Paltz rally extended the gap to nine, and Montclair fended off two match points on a Ramsey kill and an attack error. New Paltz settled in and got the final point to claim the opening match of the day.
• Much like the opening frame against New Paltz, the first stanza against New Paltz went back and forth. With the score tied at eight, the Red Hawks reeled off five consecutive points, including two blocks from SOPHIA LOPEZ, to grab a 13-8 lead.
• Desales jumped back in front 18-17, but KELLY WATERMAN scored five straight points for the 23-18 advantage. ZOEY HORN and Curran pinned down sets from Carcich to help Montclair claim the opening frame.
• The Bulldogs went up 4-1 in the second stanza and inched forward 12-11 midway through the frame. EMMA HATCHER delivered six straight points, including an ace, to give Montclair a 17-12 edge. Desales answered back with a 9-1 run to creep in front again 21-18.
• A Ramsey kill brought up a set point before DeSales countered with a marker of their own. Horn and Ackermanian ended the second period with back-to-back kills, putting Montclair in the driver's seat.
• DeSales took control early in the finale, notching nine of the first 12 markers. A 7-2 Red Hawk rally flipped the script and pushed the hosts in front 15-13. Three straight tallies, including an ADDISON CASTLES ace, extended the cushion to 23-19.
• The guests fought back to tie the game at 23 and 24, but Montclair capped the game off with the last two points for the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ackermanian's 11 kills marked a season-high for the junior and the first time she's recorded double-digit kills this season.
• Ramsey matched Ackermanian with a team-high 11 kills.
• Carcich handed out 36 assists, with Rodman picking up a team-best 13 digs.
• Curran and Ramsey led the Red Hawks with 12 kills against DeSales.
• After setting a career-high with 27 digs against Merchant Marine last night, Rodman re-established the mark by picking up 30 against DeSales.

FROM THE COURT
"I thought today we did a great job battling to finish the regular season strong. We played New Paltz better than we did earlier in the season and Emily did a great job mixing the offense trying to spread the ball more. Unfortunately, we gave up a few big runs against them that they capitalized on. I thought we did a great job against DeSales closing out tight sets. We had to dig deep on defense to earn a few key points down the stretch. I thought Katie had two great days defensively and our defense as a whole kept us in the game. I thought Zoey, Lily, and Sophia did a great job in the middle and Nadya came off the bench to provide us some strong offense from the right side." - Head Coach Eddie Stawinski. 

UP NEXT
The Red Hawks, seeded sixth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, face third-seeded Kean University on Tuesday at 7 pm in Union, NJ.