MAHWAH — Ramapo College women’s volleyball team fell to Kean University after a hard-fought battle, losing 1-3 on Thursday evening in the Bradley Center at home. The game was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The Roadrunners took a strong lead in set 1, with freshman hitter Asya Akar taking the first point for her team. Akar leads Ramapo in kills and even service aces for the 2025 season, with numbers as high as 269 and 48 before this past game.
The first set continued with the women of Kean catching up, junior outside hitter Victoria Latino showcasing her devastating spikes as she scored regular hits and kills across the board. Throughout the set, Ramapo maintained their lead as they stayed up 11-10. Libero Emma Garcia fought hard with many digs throughout, saving her team from losing many points. At a whopping 6-foot-0, sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Rolle displayed her quick wit by blocking many of the devastating hits from the opposing team, some giving the Roadrunners points. Tension rose as the score continuously tied, but Ramapo took the first set victory of 25-21.
“Jasmine had a big matchup with her in the middle, and she came to play,” head coach Tyler Kwinta stated about his tallest player.
Her rival during the game, junior Cayley Elena Morrison of Kean University, stood at an even taller height of 6-foot-2 and proved to be a force to be reckoned with during the second set. She had her own set of kills alongside freshman hitter Ashley Torok, who demolished the court with her kills. She also leads her school in said category with a high number of 330.
The second set proved to be the downfall of the Roadrunners, who fell behind many points as they felt the power of the Cougars. At one point they were down 6-17, losing points for small errors such as lack of communication – this was proven when Akar and Garcia bumped into each other, losing the ball and allowing their opponents to secure the point. However, they bounced back and reached 10 points to keep Kean at bay. By the end of the second set, Ramapo lost 15-25.
The third set followed a similar pattern, with the home team falling a little behind. Morrison held her team down with multiple hard blocks, using her powerful height to her advantage. For Ramapo, freshman libero Wendy Palaguachi made her presence known with the substantial amount of digs she took as well. The ball was passed back and forth for a few minutes, bringing high tension throughout the entire court. Eventually, the Roadrunners won and earned their sixth point of the set. By this time, Torok became a dangerous opponent – tossing kills left and right – and racking up points for her team. The score once again returned to 10-20, with Kean University taking the lead. Though they fought hard, the visiting team once again won the set with the same score of 15-25.
Despite the losses twice in a row, the women of Ramapo remained positive and enthusiastic. They came ready to battle in the fourth set, letting out cheers loud enough that those walking outside could hear.
“I think we did well with the energy,” Rolle complimented her team in a post-game interview. “I love how we keep ourselves accountable, because our teammates can cause some things.”
This was proven true when the fourth set took place. Freshman middle blocker Jalen Lacy of Ramapo was subbed in and absolutely devoured – fresh into the game, she scored the first point and continued to score. Freshman hitter Valentina Palen also had a few hits, being recognized by her coach. Rolle was all over the net with her blocks, scoring points for the Roadrunners. The tension rose once again in the gym as the score reached 14-16, Kean leading. Sophomore defense specialist Alyssa Edmond was the most active during this set, lunging for every possible dig to save the ball.
“It’s just having the intention every single day,” Coach Kwinta added in response to his team’s motivation. “Motivation comes from within. But also as a group – we’re a resilient group here. We’re young, but we’re eager to get back in the gym and get to work.”
Rolle and Akar grouped together to block balls both together and separate at multiple occasions. Though Kean always led, the score rose to 21-24, giving the home team some hope. Unfortunately, the Cougars took the final point and won the set, therefore winning the entire match with a score of 1-3 – alas, Ramapo did not go down without a fight.
“My final moments was just, I have to score. I can’t really worry about what they’re doing, I gotta worry about what I’m doing,” Rolle spoke after the game. “How am I going to score, was my thinking. Also, I just need to get my team hype. I know they’re relying on me so I have to be that role model and get them started on the energy.”
The Roadrunners head to William Paterson University in Wayne on Tuesday, where they will face off against the Pioneers at 7 p.m.
