STOCKTON HANGS TOUGH BUT FALLS TO #3 EMORY

Stephanie Warner

Boxscore / NCAA Tournament program

Richard Stockton (25-9) stayed close to Emory University (35-4), which is ranked third in the nation, but the Ospreys were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament 25-21, 25-23, 25-15 in a first-round match at Christopher Newport University (VA). 2011 NJAC Player of the Year Stephanie Warner (Totowa/Passaic Valley) led Stockton with 11 kills.

Setters Laura Hausman (Bethlehem, PA/Catasauqua) and Mayan Alvarado (Gainesville, FL/P.K. Yonge) dished 17 and 13 assists respectively while Ashley Gubista (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) scooped a team-high 13 digs. Stockton made its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance but drew a nationally-ranked opponent in the first round for the fourth straight year.

Emory broke out to a 16-8 lead in the first set but the Ospreys used a 13-6 run to pull within 22-21 before the Eagles scored three straight points to win the set 25-21. Nicole Serekian (Mahwah/ Mahwah) and Kasey Hennecke (Fair Lawn/Fair Lawn) each registered three of their seven kills in the opening stanza.

Warner and Serekian slammed three early kills apiece as Stockton opened up a 13-10 lead in the second set. The score remained close throughout and later was tied 20-20 after another kill by Warner. Emory then won five of the next eight points and prevailed 25-23.

The Ospreys again stayed close early in the third set, leading by one point on four occasions and tying the score 10-10 on a kill by Hennecke. Emory went on a 9-1 run from there to take control of the set and eliminate Stockton from the NCAA Tournament 25-15.

The match was the final career contest for a quartet of Stockton seniors who won four consecutive NJAC championships in Hausman, Christine Velott (Moorestown/ Moorestown), Tabitha Nejman (Runnemede/Our Lady of Mercy) and Nicole Ober (Cherry Hill/CH East), plus fellow senior Cynthia Twarowski (Marlton/Cherokee) who was a two-year letter winner.