Mahwah, NJ – Stockton University (23-10) advanced to the NJAC championship with a 3-1 victory on the road at No. 2 seed Ramapo (19-7) in the conference semifinals. The No. 3 seed Ospreys will face No. 1 seed Kean University for the NJAC title on Saturday at 1 pm in Union.
 
Stephanie Kovacs (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) led Stockton with 17 kills followed by Allie Desmond (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) with nine kills. Sarah Walsh (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) and Kara Glynn (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) contributed eight spikes apiece and Walsh also scooped a career-high 22 digs.
 
Both Stockton setters registered double-doubles. Alice Brandt (Floral Park, NY/Floral Park) dished a match-high 21 assists and added 10 digs while Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) finished with 19 assists and 10 digs. Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, PA/Thomas Jefferson) and Erin Thompson (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) chipped in with 17 and 11 digs respectively.
 
Stockton seized the opportunity against a Ramapo team that committed 26 hitting errors, nine receiving errors and five service errors. The Ospreys took command of the first set by scoring eight straight points for a 15-6 lead on the way to a 25-16 win. Kovacs led the charge with three kills and a block.
 
Two kills by Desmond and two aces by Glynn helped Stockton race out to a 9-1 lead in the second stanza. The advantage ballooned to 15 points at 23-8 and the Ospreys cruised to a 25-10 rout. Stockton led 16-11 in the third set but Ramapo overtook the Ospreys with a 10-2 run and extended the match, 25-20.
 
In the fourth set, Kovacs and Glynn slammed two kills apiece during a 6-1 spurt that put Stockton in front 9-4. The Ospreys continued pulling away and led by as much as 10 before scoring the last three points of the match to close out the victory 25-13.
 
Stockton won eight consecutive NJAC championships from 2008-15 and will try to regain the conference crown on Saturday when the Ospreys visit Kean for the NJAC championship match at 1 pm.