St. Davids, Pa. – Stockton University (26-2) won the first two sets and then dropped the next two before prevailing 15-12 in the fifth set for a 3-2 victory over Eastern University (15-10). The triumph was the 19th in a row for the Ospreys.
Stockton improved to 7-1 in five-set matches this season.
Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) registered her second triple-double of the year with 43 assists, a career-high 16 kills and 16 digs.
Charlotte Leon (Northport, N.Y./Northport) slammed a team-high 18 kills for the Ospreys.
Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) scooped 27 digs and tied her career high with nine assists.
Sophia Marziello (Haddonfield/Paul VI) contributed 15 digs while
Christie Louer (Clifton/Clifton) finished with 10 digs and three aces.
Stockton led 24-18 in the first set but Eastern staved off five straight set points to pull within 24-23 before a kill by Sullivan gave the Ospreys a 25-23 win. Stockton built a 16-10 lead in the second set before the Eagles closed the gap to 16-14.
The Ospreys took three of the next four points, two on kills by Sullivan, and they won 25-19 for a 2-0 lead in the match. Eastern regrouped with a 25-13 rout in the third set, setting the stage for a wild fourth stanza.
Trailing 24-22, Stockton staved off two set points to tie at 24. The Eagles had another set point at 25-24, but the Ospreys responded with two straight to pull ahead 26-25. Eastern then scored the next two markers to go back on top 27-26.
Kills by Louer and Sullivan put Stockton back in front 28-27, however Eastern stayed alive for a 28-28 tie. Stockton had another match point at 29-28, but the Eagles answered with three straight tallies to extend the match 31-29.
In the deciding set, three kills by Leon and two aces from Louer sparked Stockton to a 9-3 lead. Eastern closed the gap to 11-9 before three straight points by the Ospreys made it 14-9. The Eagles fought off three more match points to get within 14-12 before a kill by Leon finally gave the Ospreys their 19th consecutive win, 15-12.
Stockton will play its final NJAC match of the season on Tuesday when the Ospreys visit Kean University for a 7 p.m. tilt.
