Senior outside hitter Jena Kaul reached 1,000 career kills in Rowan University’s women’s volleyball’s 3-0 sweep of the Ramapo College Roadrunners on Thursday night at Esbjornson Gymnasium. Aside from Kaul’s 1,000th career kill, the team also celebrated their second New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory of the season, and are 2-0 in conference play thus far.
Just two points into the second set, Kaul tipped the ball over the net that was quickly recovered by the Roadrunners.
After the ball was recovered and returned to Rowan’s side, Kaul swung for the middle of the court. The Roadrunners weren’t able to return it, giving the senior her 1,000th career kill.
The crowd erupted and four gold balloons spelling out “1,000” floated above Rowan’s sideline as Kaul was celebrated by her teammates.
“I felt just so much love and appreciation for this team,” said Kaul. “Just them showing out and showing their love and support and everything for me, and it just goes to show that we all love each other, we will go above and beyond for each other.”
As teammates surrounded number 15, fans in brown and gold cheered for the senior, and so did head coach Deana Jespersen.
“She continues to be coachable, and she continues to listen to what we ask her to do… I have a lot of admiration for that and the leader she is,” Jespersen said.
The Profs started down, but were able to come back and clinch a first set victory 25-23. The first set was filled with intense rallies and back and forth battles, but the second set was where the game ramped up. Rowan able to keep the energy going and finished the second set 25-19. The Roadrunners weren’t able to complete a comeback and fell 25-13 in a third set, with a kill by none other than Kaul securing the sweep for the Profs.
Rowan’s next NJAC game isn’t until Tuesday, Oct. 7 against William Patterson, a team they fell to in the NJAC semifinals last season. Despite their history, the Profs are staying positive.
“I’m excited, we got a big one [match] on Tuesday. So you kind want momentum, right? That’s gonna be a battle,” Jespersen said. “There is a bone to pick with that team… I’m hoping that it’ll be a good match up.”
Before their match on Tuesday, Rowan is set to take on DeSales University and Brooklyn College at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, in a breast cancer awareness two game series on Saturday at Esbjornson Gymnasium.
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