Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University (12-8, 4-0 NJAC) dealt previously unbeaten Ramapo College (12-1, 3-1 NJAC) its first loss of the season 3-2 in a five-set thriller. The teams alternated set wins, with the Ospreys taking the first, third and fifth frames.
Kate Louer (Clifton/Clifton) and
Nicole Palmer (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) led Stockton with 12 kills apiece, with Louer adding 10 digs.
Ashley Carkhuff (Hackettstown/Hackettstown) chipped in with nine kills and a season-high 18 digs.
Regan Mendick (Newark, Del./Red Lion Christian) dished 27 assists and added six digs and a match-high four aces.
Aubrey Rentzel (York, Pa./Central York) notched a double-double of 16 assists and 12 digs.
McKenna Ritchie (Newark, Del./Newark Charter) and
Teleyah Witherspoon (Hackensack/Hackensack) led the defensive effort with match highs of 21 digs for Ritchie and eight blocks for Witherspoon.
Stockton took the first set 25-21 behind three kills by
Rileigh Wilson (Milton, Del./Cape Henlopen) and two aces by Mendick. Ramapo evened the match 25-20 before the Ospreys dominated the third set 25-12 by posting a blistering .545 hitting percentage. Palmer and Louer smacked four kills apiece in the third stanza.
Ramapo captured the fourth frame 25-19 to extend the match to a decisive fifth set. After three early ties, Stockton took the lead for good at 10-6 with four straight points. The Roadrunners closed the gap to one at 10-9 and 12-12 before two kills by Palmer and one from Louer propelled the Ospreys to the 15-13 triumph.
Kalme Moncavo paced Ramapo with a match-high 15 kills and Penelope Rivera tallied 12 kills plus 12 blocks. Cleopatra Diakou contributed 37 assists and 12 digs for the Roadrunners.
Stockton will host a tri-match on Saturday, playing Hunter College at 10:00 a.m. and Mount St. Mary (N.Y.) at 2:00 p.m.
