Union, NJ - The sixth-seeded Montclair State University volleyball team fell to third-seeded Kean University 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday. 


HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars netted four of the first six markers before NADYA ACKERMANIAN slammed a kill to stop the 4-0 run. EMMA HATCHER then served up an ace, tying the contest at four all. 
• A KATIE RODMAN service ace extended the lead to 10-8, and the Red Hawks continued to hold the lead at 17-14 after a kill from RACHEL CURRAN. Kean halted the rally after a timeout before the two sides exchanged the following six points. 
• With Montclair leading 21-17, the hosts countered with eight of the last nine points to take the opening frame 25-22. 
• The Red Hawks used a 4-1 spurt to go up 7-4 in the second set, with SOPHIA LOPEZ and Ackermanian teaming up for a double block to finish the run. Kean jumped in front, but Montclair kept the frame close, with a Curran kill trimming the margin to 16-15.
• An unforced error by Kean leveled the frame at 17, and a LILY THOMAS kill from EMILY CARCICH gave Montclair a lead. A GABBY KONRAD ace extended the gap to 19-17, and SKYE RAMSEY put down a set to make it 22-19. 
• Kean stopped the rally with a kill and forced Montclair into a timeout. The Cougars evened things at 22 before the guests countered with the following two markers. Kean fended off a pair of set points and tallied the last four markers to go up 2-0 in the match. 
• The Red Hawks took a 12-9 edge in the third stanza on a block from Ramsey and Thomas. A ball-handing error by the Cougars pushed the margin to four, and Kean took their first timeout of the set. 
• The lead swelled to four at 17-13 on a kill from Ackermanian, and a kill from EMMA HATCHER made 19-14 Montclair. 
• Ramsey recorded two kills to bring up set point, and after Kean fought off one set point, the senior finished off the frame with a kill from the outside. 
• Kean used a 6-0 spurt in the fourth set to turn a 7-4 deficit into a 10-7 lead as Montclair took a timeout to regroup. The Red Hawks battled back, and Kean took a timeout of their own after an ace from Hatcher. 
• The Red Hawks tied the fourth stanza at 16 on an unforced attack error before the Cougars responded with four straight markers. 
• Thomas registered a kill to pull Montclair within three before a rejection from the rookie, and Carcich trimmed the deficit to 22-20. A kill from Kean made it 24-21, but a Ramsey cross-court kill fought off one match point, yet the Cougars notched the win on the next. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ramsey and Ackermanian led the way with 14 kills. 
• Rodman picked up 25 digs, with Curran and Carcich adding double-digit digs. 
• Thomas and Lopez each tallied six blocks in the setback. 

FROM THE FIELD
"I am so proud of the team's effort tonight. I thought we played very well in multiple areas of the game, especially our blocking with 26 Block Assists in the match. Kean is a solid team and I thought we put pressure on them from the service line and did a great job slowing down their offense. I thought Lily and Sophia did a great job blocking in the middle, Nadya and Skye had great offensive games, Rachel played well all around, Emily did a great job distributing the offense and Katie did a great job defensively and serve receiving. Our DS's and Serving Subs (Gaby, Addi, Emma, and Kelly) all provided us with runs in crucial times. Lots of positives came out of this match that will continue the growth and development of this team." - Head Coach Eddie Stawinski.