Wayne, N.J. – Stockton University (22-8) was denied in its quest for the NJAC championship with a 3-0 setback in the conference title match at William Paterson (22-9). The defeat, which came in three close sets, also halted Stockton's six-match winning streak.
 
Kate Louer (Clifton/Clifton) topped the Ospreys with 12 kills followed by Nicole Palmer (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip) with nine kills and a team-high 16 digs to go with four assists and four blocks.
 
Rileigh Wilson (Milton, Del./Cape Henlopen) contributed eight kills while Regan Mendick (Newark, Del./Red Lion Christian) tallied 17 assists and nine digs. McKenna Ritchie (Newark, Del./Newark Charter) also scooped nine digs and Teleyah Witherspoon (Hackensack/Hackensack) notched a match-high six blocks.
 
In the first set, Louer led a rally from 22-17 deficit with two aces and a kill that helped pull Stockton into a 22-22 tie. After the teams exchanged points for a 23-23 deadlock, two William Paterson kills dealt the Ospreys a 25-23 defeat.
 
Stockton fashioned an early 8-5 lead in the second set but was overtaken by the Pioneers. The Ospreys stayed close but couldn't get back on top in a 25-22 setback. Stockton staved off three match points in the third frame to pull into a 24-24 tie but was unable to sustain the momentum as William Paterson answered with two points in a row to clinch the championship 26-24.
 
Stockton's 22 victories this season were the team's most since 2019, and they finished as the NJAC Tournament runner-up for the second consecutive year.