Volleyball Secures Playoff Spot With 3-0 Win Over Rutgers-Newark

NEWARK, NJ – The Rowan University volleyball team won in three straight sets over Rutgers-Newark in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action on Tuesday. With this win, the Profs move to 17-13 (6-2 NJAC) on the season and clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming conference playoffs. The Scarlet Raiders are now 15-10, with a 4-4 NJAC mark. Rowan jumped out to an 8-3 lead over the Scarlet Raiders. The Profs extended their lead to 11-4 after a three-point rally. Opposite hitter Kailey Gallagher (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) started the run with a kill, followed by an ace from setter Alaina Santacroce (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and a point from middle hitter Lauren Horbacewicz (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.). The Brown and Gold slipped as Rutgers-Newark fought back to tie the game at 17. Both sides traded points before Rowan notched three straight to take a 22-19 edge. The Profs locked down and held onto the lead to win, 25-22. The score was close in early in the second frame, but the Brown and Gold pull ahead 6-3 after three kills from outside hitter Megan Jacobi (jr. Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area), opposite hitter Alexa Gasser (so. Broomall, PA/Villa Maria Academy) and Gallagher. The Profs' offense kept rolling and they doubled their lead, 11-5. The Scarlet Raiders fought back to tie the game at 15. Middle hitter Meredith Moore (fr. Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) and setter Karly Gregoire (so. Lindon, NJ/Union Catholic) notched back-to-back kills to even the score. Rowan buckled down and ripped off six consecutive points to take a 22-16 advantage. Rutgers-Newark attempted to close the gap, but the Profs tallied the final three points of set two to win, 25-20. The Brown and Gold dominated the last stanza, 25-15. Rowan started hot as they took a large 9-2 lead. The Profs were tested when the Scarlet Raptors cut the deficit to 11-9. Rowan regained control and took a 21-14 lead. The match was closed out when the Profs scored four straight points. Middle hitter Jamie Shirtz (sr. Mendham, NJ/West Morris Mendham) started the run, followed by a kill from Jacobi and two Scarlet Raider errors, as Rowan won the match. Gallagher finished with nine kills on a .400 hitting percentage, while Jacobi record nine as well. Horbacewicz registered seven kills on a .429 hitting percentage and one block. Outside hitter Erin Keegan (sr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex Reg.) recorded a game-high 19 digs, followed by libero Emma Cormican (so. Wallingford, PA/Strath Haven) with 12. The Rowan volleyball team travels to Neumann University on Friday, Oct. 26, with the match slated to start at 6 p.m.