Haverford, Pa. – Stockton University (0-2) opened the 2023 season with a pair of setbacks on the first day of the Haverford Invitational. The Ospreys were defeated 3-1 by Coast Guard and then 3-2 by Haverford.
 
Stockton and Coast Guard split the first two sets by 25-23 scores before the Ospreys dropped the next two frames 27-25 and 25-16. Freshman Nicole Palmer (East Islip, NY/East Islip) topped Stockton with 12 kills followed by Teleyah Witherspoon (Hackensack/Hackensack) with 11 kills and four blocks.
 
Setters Regan Mendick (Newark, Del./Red Lion Christian) and Aubrey Rentzel (York, Pa./Central York) handed out 24 and 22 assists respectively.
 
Against Haverford, Stockton dropped the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21 but rallied 25-22, 25-23 to even the match before falling 15-9 in the fifth set. Palmer led the Ospreys with a double-double of 16 kills and 10 digs. Kate Louer (Clifton/Clifton) spiked 14 kills followed by Jaylah Rolle (Williamstown/Williamstown) with a career-high 13 kills.
 
Mendick dished a career-high 30 assists and freshman McKenna Ritchie (Newark, Del./Newark Charter School) paced the defense with 34 digs.
 
Stockton will continue play in the Haverford Invitational tomorrow with matches against Augsburg University (Minn.) at 11:00 am and Lebanon Valley College at 1:00 pm.