Allentown, PA – Stockton University (8-4) played a pair of marathon five-set contests in a tri-match at Muhlenberg, the alma mater of head coach Allison Walker, but came out on the short end of both.
 
The Ospreys were outlasted 3-2 in a marathon against Scranton (13-1). The set scores were 23-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25-19, 18-16. Stockton then suffered a 3-2 setback to host Muhlenberg (10-2) with scores of 20-25, 23-25, 25-22, 28-26, 15-12
 
In the five-setter with Scranton, Stephanie Kovacs (Allentown, Pa/Central Catholic) pounded a career-high 26 kills and Sarah Walsh (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) added 13 kills. Double-doubles came from freshman setters Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) with 30 assists and 13 digs plus Alice Brandt (Floral Park, NY/Floral Park) with 22 assists and 15 digs.
 
Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, PA/Thomas Jefferson) contributed a match-high 25 digs and Allie Desmond (Ellicott City/Marriotts Ridge) finished with 10 kills. The Ospreys led two sets to one and later were up 12-7 in the fifth set before succumbing to a Scranton rally that swung the outcome of the match.
 
Walsh spiked a career-high 25 kills against Muhlenberg followed by Kovacs with 15 and Kara Glynn (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) with 11 kills, 18 digs and three aces. Sullivan dished a whopping 52 of Stockton's 60 assists in the match and Miller tied her career high with 26 digs.
 
Stockton broke out to a commanding two-sets-to-none lead and was ahead 17-16 in the third frame before Muhlenberg stayed alive 25-22. The Ospreys had match point at 25-24 in the fourth set but the Mules scored four of the next five points to extend the match, 28-26. Stockton fashioned a 7-5 lead in the deciding stanza and then ran out of steam as an 8-1 run sealed their fate in the 15-12 defeat.
 
Stockton will get some much-needed rest before visiting Kean University for an NJAC match on Thursday at 7 pm.