UALBANY RALLIES IN FIVE GAMES TO WIN 2006 AMERICA EAST VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Albany, N.Y. – Kamisha Kellam had a career-high 19 kills and Ashley DeNeal added 13 kills and a career-best 37 digs, as UAlbany rallied from a huge deficit in a 3-2 victory over UMBC that captured the America East Conference Volleyball Championship on Sunday, Nov. 19. The Great Danes, who won by scores of 27-30, 22-30, 30-26, 30-18 and 15-12, receive an automatic NCAA berth as the conference tournament champion.

UMBC (16-15) looked in firm control after winning the opening two games and building a 22-16 lead in the third. Freshman Ashley Oscars, the conference’s rookie of the year, and Sarah Ball helped create that margin with 18 and 14 kills, respectively.

UAlbany (19-10) then turned the match around by running off 10 of the game’s next 12 points. Kellam, a sophomore, drew her team even at 24 apiece, before Shelby Goldman, an all-tournament selection who had 18 kills and 18 digs, finished off two attacks to put her team ahead.

DeNeal, the championship’s most outstanding player, helped UAlbany run off eight unanswered points to start the fourth game. She ignited the outburst with a kill off a blocker and ended the spree with a service ace. The Great Danes led by as much as 14 in the stanza.

In the fifth and deciding game, UAlbany jumped out to an 11-6 advantage when Kellam scored off a quick set and UMBC’s Sarah Fillmore hit an attack long over the end line. However, the Retrievers, who upset defending champion Binghamton in the semifinal round, would close the gap. Amanda Willey and Ball, who totaled 23 digs, blocked DeNeal’s attack to slice the margin to 13-12. But the Great Danes scored the last two points, including Goldman’s game-winning kill in the middle of the floor.

“(Ashley) DeNeal’s shoulders were big in the comeback,” said UAlbany coach Kelly Sheffield, whose team became the first to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the conference championship match. “She and Shelby (Goldman) came up huge. This senior class has been through everything; they stayed calm. I think they just got both irritated and competitive.”

Ashley Crenshaw added 12 kills for the Great Danes, who will make their second NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the 2004 America East title in another five-game championship.

“We just believe in ourselves and I am proud of our team,” offered DeNeal, whose squad last came back from two games down against Syracuse last November. “We played with some nerves in the first two games, but then we were aggressive in the moment. It feels good to come this far and then battle it out.”

UMBC’s Jessie Folk and Angela Anderson had 12 kills apiece. Anderson, a sophomore outside hitter, converted three attacks in the first game, which went back and forth with 14 ties and five lead changes. Folk’s kill off a block jump-started a run of four consecutive points that broke open game two.

“We do not play well when we are frustrated, so we just kept going point by point,” explained UAlbany setter Blair Buchanan, the America East player of the year. “We picked up our passes in the third game and that helped get the middle involved. I always have confidence in Ashley (DeNeal) that she will do whatever it takes to get the job done. She has the mentality that she’s not going to lose and wants the ball.”

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2006 America East Conference Volleyball Championship

UAlbany def. UMBC, 27-30, 22-30, 30-26, 30-18, 15-12


America East Conference All-Championship Team

Morgan Sweany (Stony Brook), Megan Hoag (Binghamton), Kira Giles (UMBC), Sarah Ball (UMBC), Kamisa Kellam (Albany), Shelby Goldman (Albany), Ashley DeNeal (Albany)



Most Outstanding Player – Ashley DeNeal ( Albany )

UALBANY WINS SECOND STRAIGHT AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Orono, Maine -- Casey Halloran scattered six hits in seven strong innings on the mound to lead UAlbany to its second consecutive America East Conference championship with a 5-2 victory over Boston University on Saturday, May 13. The four-team, double-elimination tournament was held at the University of Maine’s Kessock Field.

UAlbany (36-11-1) also earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season with the conference’s automatic berth. The Great Danes, who set a school record for single-season wins, will find out their opponent on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The 64-team field will be announced on ESPNews with regional play scheduled for May 19-21.

Boston U. (29-29) set up the championship game by winning two games in the loser’s bracket earlier in the day. The Terriers, who were attempting to become the first No. 4 seed to win the conference title, eliminated UMBC, 2-1, as Christy Leath delivered a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning. In a 3-1 win over UAlbany, Leath had a two-run double in the third, while teammate Liz Alley smacked her 10th home run of the season.

In the championship, the second-seeded Great Danes broke up a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run fourth. Freshman Meagan Butsch put her team ahead with a sacrifice fly, but then a throwing error by the center fielder scored another run. Julie Gannon then belted her second homer of the spring, a solo shot, for a 4-1 lead.

Shortstop Maegan Larsen led off the fifth inning by drilling a 1-1 pitch over the left-field fence, her team-leading 10th home run. Larsen, who chased starting pitcher Cassidi Hardy with that blast, and second baseman Katrina Dunning both had two hits in the contest.

Meanwhile, Halloran cruised along with a seven-strikeout, no-walk performance to improve to 27-8 on the season. She was named the championship’s most outstanding player by posting a 3-1 record with 31 strikeouts in tournament play. UAlbany’s Ali Meacham, Amber Maisonet and Larsen joined her on the all-tournament squad.

“I thought going in that it would go two (games) today,” said UAlbany coach Chris Cannata, whose team faced Boston U. in the championship game for the third time in the last four years. “I was hoping that Casey (Halloran) would be fresh. You really have to ride your ace at the end and she certainly wants the ball every day.”

Leath, a freshman catcher, accounted for both of Boston University’s runs, as she went 3-for-3 at the plate in the final. She hit her fourth home run of the year in the first inning and added a RBI double in the sixth.

“We were nervous after the first game today,” offered Halloran, who became the school’s all-time strikeouts leader with 408 to break the previous mark established by Kelly Poynton from 1997-99. “But we realized it (the championship) was ours to win. It’s not like I threw a no-hitter out there. I gave up a bunch of hits and my team just made plays behind me.”

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America East Conference Tournament - Championship

UAlbany (36-11-1) 100 310 0 - 5 8 0

Boston U. (29-29) 100 001 0 - 2 6 1

Casey Halloran and Ali Meacham.

Cassidi Hardy, Brittany Detweiler (5) and Christy Leath.

America East Conference Tournament - Third Round

Boston U. (29-28) 002 100 0 - 3 6 0

UAlbany (35-11-1) 000 100 0 - 1 3 0

Cassidi Hardy and Christy Leath.

Casey Halloran and Ali Meacham.



America East Conference Softball Championship Bracket
Thursday, May 11
Game 1: #2 Albany 8, #3 UMBC 0
Game 2: #4 Boston University 11, #1 Maine 1
Friday, May 12
Game 3: Albany 2, Boston U. 1
Game 4: UMBC 5, Maine 1 (Maine eliminated)
Game 5: Boston U. 2, UMBC 1 (UMBC eliminated)
Saturday, May 13
Game 6: Boston U. 3, Albany 1
Game 7: Albany 5, Boston U. 2 (Boston U. eliminated)

UALBANY MEN AND WOMEN ARE AMERICA EAST TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information
Release: 05/07/2006

Durham, N.H. - Joe Greene won two individual titles and was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer and Rookie of the Year as the UAlbany men were named the America East Conference champions on Sunday, May 7 at New Hampshire's Reggie F. Atkins Track Facility. The Great Danes earned their second consecutive title and third in the last four years with 199.5 points. The UAlbany women were also crowned champions as they took home their first-ever America East team title, finishing with a best-ever 180 points.

Greene became the first male to post winning performances in both the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles at an America East championship. He is also the first Great Dane to win multiple individual titles at an outdoor championship since Teresa Covert took the 100m dash and hurdles in 2004. Greene was clocked in 47.53 seconds in the 400m dash, while covering the hurdles in 51.59 seconds, only nine-hundredths of a second off the school record.

Junior Burnett won the 200m dash and turned in a second-place showing in the 100m dash, setting UAlbany standards in both events. He captured the 200m title in 21.24 seconds and was followed by freshman Pat Weider, who crossed the line in 21.37. Burnett shaved 46-hundredths of a second off the previous school record in the event. He also covered the 100m dash in 10.64 seconds, with Weider following in third and clocking in at 10.81.

Greene and Burnett also teamed up to lead the men's 4x400m relay to a win in 3:10.86. Greene ran a 46.1 anchor split, while Burnett had a 46.6 split in the second slot. Jerry Wilson and Stephen Evans also contributed to the relay win.

Ray Gilman rounded out UAlbany individual men's winners with a first-place triple jump of 48-feet, 7.25-inches. That leap, which was more than one foot better than his nearest competitor, was Gilman's best of the year.

Freddie Wills was named the Field Performer of the Year, posting top-three finishes in three jumping events. Wills followed up his win in the long jump and third-place finish in the high jump on Saturday with a second-place showing in the triple jump in the meet's final day. Wills, who leaped 47-1.75 in that event, also took home the Coaches Award, given to the athlete who scores the most points for his team.

The Great Danes edged New Hampshire, which followed closely behind with 195.33 points in the two-day competition. Binghamton (129.5), UMBC (101.33) and Boston U. (95) rounded out the top five.

The UAlbany women were led by Jessica Ortman, who won the 1500-meter run in 4:36.78. Her twin sister Jenna finished second in the event, crossing the line in 4:38.80. Jessica and Jenna also posted third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively, in the 800m run.

Jessica Ortman, who set a school record in the 3,000m steeplechase on Saturday, also ran a 2:13.1 anchor split to lead the women's 4x800m relay to a victory. Danielle Trimpop and Adanna Andrews ran the first two legs, while Jenna Ortman was third with a 2:14.6 split.

Freshmen Kamilah McShine and Ritshell Verdier also turned in top performances for the Great Danes. McShine captured the 100m hurdles in 14.13 seconds, plus finished third in the heptathlon with 4,128 points. Verdier shattered the school record in winning the discus with a throw of 157-8. She posted a win margin of better than 30 feet and eclipsed her own UAlbany standard by nearly 19 feet.

The women, who finished fifth last year and were in third place after the first day of competition, finished 13.5 points ahead of Boston U. New Hampshire (121.5), UMBC (106) and Binghamton (95) followed to complete the top five.

"It was an exciting and tremendous meet," said UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives, whose staff received the women's coaching staff of the year award. "To win three championships in one year is unbelievable. I'm proud of these athletes. Everyone stepped up, and it was a total team effort."

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2006 America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship
(The Reggie F. Atkins Track Facility, Durham, N.H.)
Final Results -- TEAM

MEN
1. UAlbany 199.50, 2. New Hampshire 195.33, 3. Binghamton 129.50, 4. UMBC 101.33, 5. Boston U. 95, 6. Maine 66.33, 7. Vermont 35, 8. Stony Brook 18, 9. Hartford 13.
WOMEN
1. UAlbany 180, 2. Boston U. 166.50, 3. New Hampshire 121.50, 4. UMBC 106, 5. Binghamton 95, 6. Vermont 88, 7. Maine 78.50, 8. Stony Brook 17, 9. Hartford 5.50

UAlbany Men's Indoor Track Capture 2006 AE Championship

The Albany men finished the meet with 193 points, while UMBC (148) and the University of New Hampshire (127.50) finished at second and third, respectively. In fourth place was Boston University with 100 points, followed by Binghamton University (86.50)and University of Maine (50). Stony Brook University (30), University of Vermont (22) and University of Hartford(20)rounded out the nine-team field.

On the women's side, Boston University (195) took the meet over second-place Albany (165.50) by 30.5 points. Maine (91) and New Hampshire (84.50) finished third and fourth, respectively. They were followed by UMBC(84), Binghamton (71), Vermont (53), Stony Brook (33) and Hartford (3).

Boston U.’s Robyn Jonhnson was named coach of the year for the women, while UMBC’s David Bobb won the award for the men.

Albany's Andrew Allstadt captured the 3,000-meter run title with a time of 8:25.28. Allstadt went on to win the 5,000-meter crown with an ECAC qualifying time of 14:26.99. Allstadt's efforts were rewarded by being named the 2006 America East Track Performer of the Year and the winner of the Coaches Award, given to the athlete who scores the most points for his team.

Other champions for Albany were Pat Weider in the 200-meter (21.77), Gered Burns in the 800 (1:52.22), the 4x800 relay made up by Jared Jupin, Ricardo Estremera, Joseph Belokopitsky and Burns. For field events, Kamar Elliot took the titled in the triple jump with a leap of 48-10.75.

The Boston U. women started out with a first in the mile with Abby Sadowski breaking an America East record from 1995 with a time of 4:51.97. The previous record was held by Boston U.'s Christine Stief (4:44.98). Sadowski went on to capture the 1,000-meter crown with a time of 2:51.10. Sadowski finished the meet by anchoring the winning distance medley relay (11:42.16), that broke the previous America East standard from 2003. Sadowski was named the America East Track Performer of the Year for her efforts. Teammates Marisa Ryan, Erin Cadden and Claire Robson ran the other three legs of the 4x800 relay.

Boston U.'s Ryan also took first in the 3,000-meter with a record breaking time of 9:40.21. Fellow Terrier Andrea Walkonen contributed to the record breaking by taking the 5,000-meter race with a time of 16:13.80, over 14 seconds faster than the previous America East standard. High jumper Nikki Hill won the event for the Terriers with a jump of 5'05.75", while Tahari James won the long jump with a 19" leap. James would go on to win the triple jump crown by jumping 40"04.25. James was named the Field Performer of the Year and also won the coaches award for gathering the most points.

Albany’s Joe Greene placed second in the 400-meter (48.50) and was on the second place 4x400 relay to help him earn the Rookie of the Year award. Vermont’s Jan Carlson took the 55-meter dash title with a time of 7.283, fifth in the 200-meter (25.28) and was named Rookie of the Year on the women’s side. Binghamton’s Hasani Hampden won the heptathlon with 4,910 points and placed second in the 55-hurdles (7.72). and was named Field Performer of the Year.