Boxscore

Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (21-14) saw their eight-year run as NJAC champions come to a halt as Montclair State (25-8) downed the Ospreys in five sets in the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament. The Red Hawks rallied from a two-set deficit and prevailed by scores 17-25, 19-25, 25-23, 26-24 and 15-10 to advance to the NJAC championship at Ramapo on Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
Stockton looked like the defending champs through the first two sets as they jumped out quickly on Montclair. In the first set, the Ospreys scored nine straight points with Rebecka Zabilowicz (Belmar/Red Bank Regional) serving to open up a 10-1 lead. Stockton led by at least five the rest of way and won 25-17
 
The Ospreys won the second frame 25-19 after falling behind 15-14 midway through the period. Lindsay Schuele (Sparta/Sparta) spiked four kills late to spur Stockton to the win and put the home team up 2-0.
 
The Red Hawks were not to be denied as they extended the match with a tough 25-23 win in set number three then made a furious rally to take the fourth set. Behind Zabilowicz's serves again, Stockton jumped out to an 8-1 lead but Montclair fought back to take an 18-17 lead. Stephanie Kovacs (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) put away two kills to give Stockton a brief 23-22 advantage before the Red Hawks finished the set on a 4-1 spurt for the 26-24 win and tie the match at 2-2.
 
The Ospreys fell behind 7-2 in the deciding set before they rallied to close within 9-8. The visitors were not to be denied as they scored the next four points and later closed out the match 15-10 to advance to the NJAC finals on Saturday.
 
Kovacs led the Ospreys with a career-high 20 kills, with Schuele spiking 16 kills as the only players in doubles figures for Stockton. Jessica Ciandella (Beachwood/Roselle Catholic) distributed a career-high 30 assists and Kennedy Hubbard (Moorestown/Moorestown) tied her career-high with 25 helpers. Zabilowicz scooped 25 digs and served two aces while Idi Uffen (Williamstown/Williamstown) tallied a team-high five blocks.
 
Montclair State was led by Hayley Merrill with a match-high 21 kills and Ashley Griffith with 48 assists. Danielle Olcese scooped 17 digs and Madison Maute contributed five blocks for the Red Hawks.
 
Stockton has 21 wins, the ninth straight season and 10th time in 11 years with at least 21 wins under head coach Allison Walker. The Ospreys are ranked seventh in the New York Region but would need an at-large bid to extend their run of NCAA Tournament appearances to nine.