Rowan Volleyball Rebounds After Two Defeats to Beat DeSales Quad Match
Monday, October 25, 2021
CENTER VALLEY, PA (Oct. 25, 2021)---- Rowan volleyball rebounded from a tough 3-2 defeat on Friday to win twice on Saturday up at the DeSales Quad Match over the weekend.
The Profs tried to rally from a 2-0 deficit but ultimately fell to Messiah (20-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, and 15-17) on Friday. The squad then returned to action on Saturday where they swept SUNY-Canton (25-17, 25-20, and 25-11) and the host Bulldogs (25-21, 25-16, and 25-17).
Isabel Kirchner tied a season-high 14 kills to lead Rowan against Messiah. Courtney Rhoden added six kills and six blocks while Cassidy Abdalla added 13 kills. Julia Bowes contributed a career-high 27 digs. The Profs used six kills from Natalie Ogden in the third set to help keep the match going. The team used that momentum in the fourth to get out to a 9-2 lead. In the fifth and deciding set, Rowan had a 14-13 lead but saw the Falcons come back for a 17-15 final.
Saturday's first match saw the Profs cruise as four players totaled eight kills or more led by Brianna Newson with a match-high 10. The team amassed 43 team kills compared to just seven hitting errors. In the first set, Rowan rallied from 10-9 deficit with seven-straight points and did not look back as the team led from start to finish the rest of the way.
Against DeSales, the squad fought through 14 ties and five lead changes in the first set, ultimately ending the frame with four points in a row. A 6-0 run and later a 7-0 spurt in the second helped pave the way for a two-set lead. Ogden had another big third set, totaling another six kills to go on and sweep the home team. Newson led all attackers with 13 kills. Ogden finished with nine. Simone Sparano kicked in 18 digs and four aces, both match highs.
The team returns to action on Tuesday as they cap their NJAC slate with a road match at Kean.