Women’s volleyball is fighting for two victories.

The Rowan volleyball team, coming in with a 14-3 record, faced off against the 4-8 Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders on Tuesday night at Esby Gymnasium. But the event was much more than a volleyball game. It was also the “Profs Go Pink” night.

Not only was the team wearing pink, but the Profs’ parents and faculty were selling ice cream and T-shirts in support of United for HER. United for HER is an organization whose mission is to help those diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer have access to various forms of therapy.

This was a special night for the team because Head Coach Deana Jespersen is currently battling breast cancer. This will be Jespersen’s last game for a while as she steps back from coaching the Profs to continue treatment.

“This absolutely is my second family,” Jespersen said. “I think it’s always been really important for me that this becomes something that is special for everybody. . . It is not just about volleyball. That it is about family. This truly is my second family and it’s going to be hard to leave for a little bit.

Head Coach Jespersen was by their side at this game, sporting a pink wig to match her assistant coaches and other volleyball personnel.

The first set of the game began with Rowan testing  the Scarlet Raiders defensive abilities. The Profs took the set 25-17.

Senior Captain Natalie Ogden finished the set with a set-leading five kills. Fellow Senior Captain Cassidy Abdalla and junior Breanna Newson had four kills each.

The second set was a one-sided game by the Profs. Rowan quickly went up 16-9. The Scarlet Raiders failed to catch up, helping Rowan finish the set 25-17.

The Profs began that third set with the first point and never looked back. They finished off the Scarlet Raiders 25-15.

Brooke Adams, a freshman, led the game with 34 assists, while Ogden finished with nine kills. Cassidy Abdalla, a senior, racked up 12 kills and had a hitting percentage of .435. all with pink hair for the first time during the volleyball season.

The Profs’ perfect New Jersey Athletic Conference [NJAC] record continues with  their ninth consecutive win.

“I think this is the best streak we’ve had. We’re a really young team this year, but there’s a different kind of energy that we’re having this year, which is really nice to see,” Abdalla said. “We’re never really getting too frustrated with ourselves and we have a fire inside us that we really want to win and we’re ready to give it our all.”

Rowan will have a week-long break before their next game on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in Jersey City. They will fight to keep their winning streak against New Jersey City University. 

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