Hoboken NJ – Stockton University (17-8, 4-2 NJAC) played two matches at the Stevens Invitational that went the distance and came away victorious in both with dominant fifth sets. The Ospreys outlasted Coast Guard (13-9) by scores of 19-25, 25-13, 25-13, 21-25, 15-9 and then rallied past FDU-Florham (19-5) 19-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 15-6 to finish 3-1 at the tournament.
Stephanie Kovacs (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) and
Sarah Walsh (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) pounded 15 kills apiece versus Coast Guard.
Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) tallied 23 assists, eight digs and five aces while
Alice Brandt (Floral Park, NY/Floral Park) dished 19 assists.
Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, PA/Thomas Jefferson) scooped a team-high 13 digs.
In the fifth set, Stockton saw a 10-6 lead cut to 10-9 before ending the match with five straight points to earn the victory. Sullivan served two aces during the run.
Kovacs slugged a career-high 30 kills against FDU-Florham, followed by Walsh with 13 kills and
Allie Desmond (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) with 12. Sullivan handed out 36 assists and Brandt notched a double-double with 22 helpers and 12 digs. Miller tied her career high, set yesterday, with 27 digs.
Jocelyn Holobetz (Pottsville, PA/Nativity BVM) chipped in with 11 digs and seven kills.
Stockton trailed 18-16 in the fourth set and faced defeat before surging ahead 21-18 with five straight points, three of which came on kills by Kovacs. The Ospreys took the set 25-22 to extend the match and dominated the fifth frame. Kovacs spiked four more kills as Stockton raced to a 5-0 lead. Another five-point spurt later made it 12-2 and the Ospreys captured the win 15-6.
Stockton's next match will be an NJAC tilt at New Jersey City on Tuesday at 7 pm.
