Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University learned its destination and opponent for the 2019 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship earlier this afternoon with the announcement of the tournament field. The Ospreys will play in an eight-team regional at Johns Hopkins University and face Penn State Behrend (19-10) in the first round.
The first-round matches will take place on Friday. With a victory over the Lions, Stockton would advance to face unbeaten Johns Hopkins (29-0) in the second round on Saturday. The Blue Jays are ranked sixth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III poll.
Stockton earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning the NJAC championship with a 3-1 victory over Rowan on Saturday afternoon. The Ospreys are making their 13th NCAA tourney appearance and first since 2015. Stockton has five NCAA Tournament wins all-time. The Ospreys advanced to the third round in 2015 and second round in 2000, 2012 and 2013.
Stockton reached the 30-win mark for the fourth time in school history and enters the NCAA Tournament with a 30-3 record. The Ospreys strung together 19 consecutive wins from September 14 through October 25.
Stockton is led by five all-conference players in NJAC First Team selections
Emily Sullivan (Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raritan) and
Julie Kohlhoff (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), NJAC Second Team players
Sarah Walsh (Flemington/Hunterdon Central) and
Charlotte Leon (Northport, N.Y./Northport) plus NJAC Honorable Mention performer
Natalie Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson).
Stockton head coach
Allison Walker was voted NJAC Coach of the Year, earning the award for the sixth time in her 14 years at the helm. Walker has led the Ospreys to 10 NJAC titles and NCAA Tournament berths and boasts a 368-127 record on the Stockton bench.