Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (8-2) played its home opener at The Sports Center but had its seven-match winning streak snapped with a 3-1 defeat to Swarthmore (4-4) by scores of 25-19, 21-25, 25-16, 25-23. Stephanie Kovacs (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) led the Ospreys with a match-high 17 kills.
 
Two freshman setters registered double-doubles for Stockton. Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) tallied 22 assists and 14 digs while Alice Brandt (Floral Park, NY/Floral Park) contributed 14 assists and a team-high 15 digs. Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, PA/Thomas Jefferson) and Grace Brandt (Floral Park, NY/Floral Park) scooped 13 and 11 digs respectively.
 
Stockton fell behind 11-5 in the first set and never got closer than three the rest of the way before dropping the frame 25-19.  After trailing by three early in the second set, the Ospreys battled back with an 8-2 run and pulled ahead 15-11. Kovacs finished with four kills in the stanza and Sarah Walsh (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) added three as Stockton evened the match, 25-21.
 
Swarthmore built a 7-3 advantage early in the third set and Stockton never recovered, falling 25-16 despite four more kills from Kovacs. Sparked by two kills from Kovacs plus a kill and an ace by Sullivan, the Ospreys opened up a 10-5 lead in the fourth set. Stockton was in front 20-14 and was close to evening the match until the Garnet roared back with an 11-3 run to close it out 25-23.
 
Mehra den Braven led Swarthmore with 13 kills and 27 digs while Sarah Wallace tallied 14 kills and 18 digs. Setter Malia Scott handed out 46 assists in the match.
 
Stockton will Muhlenberg and Scranton in a tri-match at Muhlenberg on Saturday afternoon.