SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The fourth-seeded Thomas Jefferson University volleyball team came back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set but ultimately succumbed to the fifth seed, Adelphi (22-10), by a 3-2 score in the NCAA East Region Quarterfinals on Thursday night. The Rams end the season with a 24-7 record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers dominated the first two sets, handling nearly everything the Rams hit at them and avoiding Jefferson's blockers. After Jefferson scored the first two points of the match, Adelphi tallied six in a row. The Rams cut the deficit to one (9-8) but a 7-2 stretch increased the Panthers' lead to six (16-10). It was 19-13 before Adelphi finished the frame with a 6-1 surge to win the set 25-14. The Panthers hit a massive .517 while Jefferson managed just .154.
 
In the second, the Rams were ahead 3-2 but Adelphi rallied for nine of the next 10 to go ahead 11-4. The difference was six (15-9) when the Panthers recorded four of five to make it 19-10. After three Jefferson points, Adelphi closed the set with a 6-2 stretch to take it 25-15. The Panthers' strong play continued as they swung .389 in the frame compared to just .053 for the Rams.
 
Jefferson held a slim 5-4 advantage in the third but Adelphi countered with nine of the next 12 to go in front 13-8. It looked bleak for the Rams, trailing 19-14, but Jefferson dug deep and scored seven of the next nine to even the score at 21. The teams were deadlocked at 23 when a kill by Kalen Jordan brought up set point for the Rams. A Jefferson error tied the score again but a pair of kills by Sam Mann gave the Rams a 26-24 victory and forced a fourth set.
 
There were six ties through the first half of the fourth as the teams traded rallies. At 14 apiece, the Panthers registered five in a row to take a 19-14 advantage. However, Jefferson responded with a huge 10-0 run to bring up set point at 24-19. The Rams had six blocks during the surge. After two Adelphi kills, Jess Molen finished off a 25-21 triumph with a kill and the match went to a decisive fifth set.
 
After Jefferson scored the first point of the fifth, the Panthers rattled off five in a row. With the score 7-3, the Rams came back with five straight to take an 8-7 lead. Jefferson held a 10-9 edge but Adelphi took over with five consecutive points, including three kills and a block, to bring up match point at 14-10. The Rams received a kill from Sam Mann but the Panthers came back with a kill to take the match.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Jess Molen: 22 kills, 10 digs, 2 blocks, 1 service ace
Morgan Ritchie: 12 kills, 12 digs, 5 blocks, 2 service aces
Kalen Jordan: 5 kills, 13 blocks, 2 digs
Sam Mann: 10 kills, 2 blocks, 1 dig
Kristine Guenther: 39 assists, 12 digs, 1 block
Cameron Johnson: 21 digs, 3 assists, 2 service aces
 
NOTES
- Kalen Jordan's 13 blocks are a career high.
- It was Jefferson's third NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row.