UNION, N.J. (9/15/22) – Four players posted double digit kills as the Kean University women's volleyball team rallied to beat the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 3-2 in a five set thriller on Thursday evening.

Ashley Smith posted a double-double with 19 digs, 11 kills, and four aces for the Cougars who improve to 4-3 overall. Meredith Buchanan totaled 21 kills and 12 digs for the Mariners who fall to 3-3 overall.

After dropping the first two sets by close 25-23 and 26-24 scores, the Cougars crawled back to sweep the final three sets.

Head Coach Don Perkins shifted the lineup at the start of set three, inserting freshman Alison Kowalewski and Aubre Adams. Kowalewski and Adams sparked Kean to a 25-17 victory as the freshman combined for eight kills and one error on 13 swings. The Cougars posted a .407 hitting percentage in that set as well.

In the fourth set, Adams and Kowalewski added another 11 kills as Kean finished the set with three straight points, including a kill from Adams for the 28-26 victory. The Cougars collected 32 digs in that set, including nine from Sedona Gaard and seven from Bri Otto.

In the deciding set, Kean hit .345 with eight kills on 29 swings and no errors. Adams and Kowalewski combined for five kills, while Smith added two.

Kowalewski finished with 13 kills and a .545 hitting percentage, Adams totaled 11 kills and a .435 hitting percentage. Morgan Hall posted 11 kills and four blocks assists.

Kylie Brua finished with a career-high 46 assists, nine digs, five kills and three aces.

On defense, Gaard (20), Smith (19) and Otto (11) all notched double digit digs.

Coach Perkins and the Cougars will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 17^th, in Madison, N.J. for a tri-match with Saint Elizabeth University and Drew University beginning at 12:00 p.m.