NCAA Tournament first round:
#8 Eastern 3, Stockton 0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-16)

Nicole Serekian

Boxscore
Richard Stockton (25-8) battled its ranked opponent but fell to #8 Eastern University (30-4) 25-20, 25-20, 25-16 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Christopher Newport University (VA). Freshman Nicole Serekian (Mahwah/ Mahwah) led the Ospreys with 11 kills and Laura Hausman (Bethlehem, PA/Catasauqua) dished 21 assists.

Eastern scored the first five points of the match but Stockton roared back to within 8-7 as Serekian sparked the rally with three kills. The Ospreys led briefly at 16-15 on an ace by Christine Velott (Moorestown/Moorestown) before Eastern took the lead for good with three straight points and went on to capture the opening set 25-20. Serekian paced Stockton with four kills and Tabitha Nejman (Runnemede/Our Lady of Mercy) added three in the frame.

The teams exchanged points early in the second set, which featured five ties before either squad reached double digits. Stockton trailed 15-10 before battling back to within 17-16 with a 6-2 run that ended with one of Serekian’s four kills in the set. Eastern responded with five straight points for a 22-16 advantage and the Ospreys were unable to rally, dropping into a two-set deficit with the 25-20 defeat.

Eastern jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the third set and continued pulling away. Stockton’s deficit peaked at eight points and the Ospreys were unable to mount a comeback as the Eagles closed out the match 25-16. Serekian again was Stockton’s offensive leader in the set with three kills.

Although the match was the final one for seniors Christine Astarita (Selden, NY/Newfield) and Allison Kleeman (Cherry Hill/CH West), a pair of defensive standouts, the Ospreys could return as many as 12 letter winners next year as they try for a fourth straight NJAC championship.