Union, N.J. – Stockton University (9-6, 2-2 NJAC) came away with a hard-fought and much-needed 3-1 victory over Kean University (15-3, 2-1 NJAC) in four close sets on Tuesday night.
 
The Ospreys took the first two 26-24 and 25-20. After they were edged 26-24 in the third frame, Stockton closed out the match 25-21 in the fourth set.
 
Kate Louer (Clifton/Clifton) led the Ospreys with a team-high 16 kills while Nicole Palmer (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip) posted a double-double of 15 kills and a team-high 12 digs. Palmer also tallied five blocks.
 
Rileigh Wilson (Milton, Del./Cape Henlopen) made it three Ospreys in double figures with 11 kills. Setter Regan Mendick (Newark, Del./Red Lion Christian) tied her career high with 31 assists.
 
Middle hitters Jalynn Grant (Philadelphia, Pa./North Penn) and Laila Newborn (Lower Merion, Pa./Lower Merion) contributed at the net, with eight kills for Grant and a career-high seven blocks by Newborn.
 
Stockton trailed the first set 24-23 before overtaking the Cougars with three straight points to win 26-24. Two straight aces by Palmer highlighted a 6-0 run that broke open the second set at 18-10 on the way to a 25-20 triumph.
 
The Ospreys were two points away from a sweep at 23-21 in the third set, but Kean used a 5-1 spurt to extend the match 26-24. In the fourth stanza, Stockton broke a 19-19 tie by scoring six of the next eight points, including two kills by Louer, to clinch the victory 25-21.
 
Stockton will play a non-conference match at Drew University on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.