UNION, N.J. (3/18/21) – Morgan Hall and Kayla Thornton combined for 18 kills as the third seed Kean University women's volleyball team swept the sixth seed William Paterson University, 3-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Quarterfinals on Thursday evening.

Hall tied a career-high with nine kills for the Cougars who improve to 4-2 overall and advance to next Tuesday's NJAC semifinal against the second seed Montclair State at 7:00 p.m. Dakota Apieclla posted a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs for the Pioneers who close their spring season at 0-6 overall.

Kailey Fawns and Ashley Smith both posted four kills apiece as the Cougars hit .250 in the 25-18 set one victory. Kean opened holding a tight 4-3 lead, before a 10-3 run propelled the Cougars in front at 14-6. Kean eventually stretched their lead to 23-11 with a kill by Gwen Hangey.

Hall posted four kills, while Sian Seeger, Kylie Brua and Kayla Thornton each tallied two kills as the Cougars recorded a .250 hitting percentage in the 25-14 set two victory. Kean opened with a 13-3 run and didn't look back as Brua and Smith each recorded two aces apiece during the run.

Thornton finished strong with five kills, while Smith, Fawns, Sedona Gaard and Hall all collected three kills apiece as the Cougars tallied a match-high .271 hitting percentage in the 25-18 set three victory. The Cougars recovered from an early 4-1 deficit to pull even at 12-12. A 9-1 run by Kean gave the Cougars a 21-14 advantage, which would prove to be enough breathing room to take the set and the match.

Smith finished with seven kills, nine digs and three aces, while Brua totaled 22 assists, 10 digs, six kills and two aces. Fawns posted six kills, while Seeger totaled 14 digs, two aces and two kills. Amanda DeLio collected 10 digs in the process.

Head Coach Don Perkins and the Cougars will return to action in Montclair, N.J. on Tuesday, Mar. 23^rd against the Red Hawks of Montclair State University at 7:00 p.m.