Hoboken, N.J. – Stockton University (11-2) won a pair of matches at the Stevens Ducks Classic on Friday night. The Ospreys swept tournament host Stevens (3-6) 3-0 and then staged a tremendous comeback from a six-point deficit in the fifth set to outlast New Paltz (5-5) 3-2 by taking the final stanza 19-17.
Stockton swept Stevens 25-20, 25-21, 25-13 in the opener.
Sarah Walsh (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) led the Ospreys with nine kills followed by
Haley Green (Springville, Utah/Maple Mountain) with seven.
Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) dished 27 assists in the win.
Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and
Christie Louer (Clifton/Clifton) paced the back row with 18 and 10 digs respectively. Stockton jumped out to a 9-2 lead and never was threatened in the first set. The second frame was tied 20-20 when three kills by Green led a 5-1 run that clinched the set. In the third stanza, the Ospreys scored 14 of the last 16 points to close out the match.
Julie Kohlhoff (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) spiked a career-high 18 kills and registered a .471 hitting percentage in the win over New Paltz.
Charlotte Leon (Northport, N.Y./Northport) also hit double figures with 10 kills. Sullivan totaled 44 assists, nine digs, six kills and three aces.
Miller scooped 27 digs and three aces while Louer contributed 12 digs. Stockton won a tight first set 26-24, with the last two points coming on kills by Kohlhoff. They dropped the next two stanzas 25-19 and 25-23. Facing defeat, the Ospreys dominated the fourth set 25-10 to extend the match.
Stockton trailed 13-7 in the fifth set but reeled off seven straight points, three on kills by Kohlhoff, to surge ahead 14-13. New Paltz responded with three of the next four points to go back in front 16-15. The Ospreys fended off that match point and another at 17-16 by scoring three straight points on two kills by Sullivan sandwiched around a kill by Louer to capture the victory 19-17.
Stockton will play one more match in the Ducks Classic tomorrow, facing Cabrini at 11 a.m.