Union, NJ – Stockton University (8-5, 1-1 NJAC) was even with host Kean University (9-4, 3-0) after two sets but dropped the third and fourth frames, resulting in a 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-21) defeat for the Ospreys. Stephanie Kovacs (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) topped Stockton with 11 kills.
 
Kara Glynn (Severna Park, MD/Severna Park) tallied 10 kills and seven digs. Freshmen setters Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) and Alice Brandt (Floral Park, NY/Floral Park) finished with 26 and 18 assists respectively. Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, PA/Thomas Jefferson) paced the back row with match highs of 15 digs and five aces.
 
Stockton led 20-18 late in the first set but Kean overtook the Ospreys with four straight points for a 22-20 count and jumped in front with the 25-22 win. Stockton came back with an emphatic response, never trailing in the second frame and knotting the match, 25-18. Allie Desmond (Ellicott City, MD/Marriotts Ridge) led the way with five kills on seven attacks.
 
Stockton opened up an early 7-3 lead in a back-and-forth third set. Kean roared back to take an 18-14 edge, then the Ospreys reeled off six straight points, including three kills by Kovacs, to pull ahead 20-18. The Cougars answered with a 7-1 spurt to capture that stanza 25-21.
 
The fourth set was tight, with Stockton taking a slim 16-15 lead on a kill by Glynn. Kean rattled off three straight points to assume the lead for good at 18-16 and later scored five of the last seven counters to end the match, 25-21.
 
Stockton will have some time to regroup before hosting Ramapo in an NJAC match on Tuesday, September 26 at 7 pm.