Montclair, NJ – In a match that was as good as any can get, the Montclair State University volleyball (21-8) dropped the five-set thriller to Stockton (22-7), 3-2 on Thursday night in the Panzer Athletic Center

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ospreys commanded much of the early opening set when they jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Red Hawks tried to chip away with three unanswered points that included a kill by CAMRYN MUUSS, but Stockton fired back with five-straight points to jump out to an 11-5 edge. The Red Hawks were never able to generate the run that they needed to climb back into the set and eventually fell in set one, 25-14.
• Set two started off as a tightly contested contest that saw seven tied scores and five lead changes up to a 7-7 draw. It was then that Montclair 9-1 run that pushed them out in front, 17-8. That run saw a service ace from Kelly Trzaska, two blocks from Muuss and LILY THOMAS and a kill from Muuss. Each team exchanged points up to a 20-11 edge. Stockton made an excellent run of seven-straight points to cut the lead to 20-18 before BRYN BAUTISTA halted the run with a kill. Both teams exchanged a pair of points before an error and a final block from Thomas and SOFIA DIPROFIO gave Montclair the second set by a score of 25-20.
• The third set started much like the second one, with four tied scores and two lead changes up to a 6-6 tie. The Red Hawks notched a 4-1 run that put them up 9-7 that included a kill from SOPHIA LOPEZ and a service ace from Bautista, but the Ospreys kept themselves in it with a pair of points for a 9-9 tie. Both teams again fought tooth-and-nail up to a 14-13 Stockton advantage that was followed by a 5-1 run for Montclair on a KATIE RODMAN service ace, two kills from Bautista and a kill from SARAH CAPONE to give them an 18-15 advantage. Both teams found a trio of points up to a 21-18 Red Hawks lead. The two teams exchanged points up to a 23-20 lead before the Ospreys climbed back to tie the contest 23-23. Montclair took care of business when an attack error gave them set point and Bautista delivered the set-sealing kill to give the Red Hawks a 25-23 lead with a chance to clinch the match in the fourth.
• Stockton, facing a must-win set to stay alive, jumped out early to a 7-5 lead. After a service error gave Montclair a point, Stockton created a 7-1 run that helped them jump out to a 14-6 advantage. The Red Hawks tried to claw back with three-straight points on an attack error and kills from Thomas and Muuss, but the Ospreys kept their distance with five unanswered for a 19-9 edge. Facing a 21-12 deficit, Montclair made their best comeback attempt of the set with five unanswered points on a kill from RACHEL CURRAN, a kill from Capone, a block by EMILY CARCICH and Lopez and two attack errors to cut the lead to 21-17. Stockton was able to hold on a force a fifth set after a 4-1 final run for a 25-18 set-four win.
• Set five was a thrilling back-to-forth showdown. A bad set and an EMMA HATCHER service ace gave Montclair the early 2-0 lead. Stockton rallied back with five of the next six points for a 5-3 lead. Four of the next six points were scored by Montclair that included two Bautista kills that eventually nodded the contest at 7-7. Stockton notched the point that took the set to the court turn, but Muuss knocked down a kill to keep the contest tied. The Ospreys outscored the Red Hawks, 5-3 to put themselves in a 13-11 position. Montclair took the advantage as a Rodman service ace and two Bautista kills flipped the script to a 14-13 lead, with a chance to seal the match. Montclair could not close it out though as Stockton notched the next three points and took a 16-14 set five win and advanced to the NJAC Final
   

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Muuss led the way with 17 kills in the contest and was followed by Bautista who had 12.
• Rodman, in the final game of her career, tallied 26 digs a pair of service aces.
• Carcich assisted 33 points during the contest.