Salisbury, Md. – Stockton University (0-1) began the 2026 season with a 3-0 setback to Salisbury University (1-0), which is in the Also Receiving Votes section of the AVCA Division III preseason poll. The Ospreys stayed close in two of the three sets but fell 25-23, 25-14, 25-21.
Nicole Palmer (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip) led Stockton a match-high 14 kills plus 16 digs.
Olivia Magro (Brigantine/ACIT) spiked six kills for the Ospreys.
Kristen Burton (Annapolis, Md./Archbishop Spalding) tallied 13 assists and eight digs while freshman setter
Ariana Bongiovanni (Charlotte, N.C./Reddington) finished with 11 assists and eight digs in her first college match.
Helen Murray (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) topped Stockton with 17 digs from the back row.
In the first set, two kills by Palmer highlighted a 5-0 spurt that pulled the Ospreys into a 22-22 tie. The Sea Gulls responded with three of the next four points to edge Stockton 25-23.
The Ospreys were within 9-8 in the second set behind two kills apiece by Palmer and Magro, but Salisbury broke away with seven unanswered points on the way to a 25-14 count.
Freshman
Lily Meijer (High Bridge/Voorhees) produced her first two career kills to help Stockton creep out to an 11-9 lead in the third set. Salisbury jumped ahead with an 8-2 run and stayed in front to close out the match 25-21.
Stockton will play three matches at the Haverford Invitational this weekend, starting with a contest against Lancaster Bible on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
