UAlbany Volleyball Defeats New Hampshire, 3-1, to Advance to America East Championship Final

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Stony Brook, N.Y. – Amanda Cowdrey posted her 19th double-double of the season to lead UAlbany to a 3-1 victory over New Hampshire in the America East Conference Volleyball Championship semifinal at Stony Brook Arena on Saturday, Nov. 17. Cowdrey had a game-high 16 kills and added 16 digs to give the Great Danes a shot at defending their conference title Sunday afternoon against host Stony Brook at 1 p.m.

UAlbany took the first game rather handily, winning by a 30-20 margin. The Great Danes then took a 2-0 lead when they edged out the Wildcats in game two by a 32-30 score, but New Hampshire forced a fourth set, by taking the third game, 30-22. UAlbany ended the match in the fourth game, winning 30-17.

Kamisha Kellam posted double-digit kills for the Great Danes, recording 10 to accompany four digs and three total blocks. Setter Brooke Stanley had a game-high 41 assists and added 13 digs and four service aces. Tawny Dahmes led the team defensively with 20 digs, and joined Cowdrey, Stanley, Kate Eckhardt (17) and Teresa Coppiellie (13) on the five-player list of Great Danes to tally double-digit digs. Ashley Crenshaw had a match-high five total blocks.

New Hampshire, who had defeated UAlbany in both regular-season meetings, was led by Kirsten Bates and Toni Barnas who each recorded double-doubles of the kill-dig variety. Bates recorded 15 kills and 17 digs, while Barnas scored 12 kills and added 11 digs. Alyse Lahti led the Wildcat defense with 28 digs and Sara Heldman had a team-high 23 assists.

The Great Danes split their regular-season matches with Stony Brook, earning a 3-2 win over the Seawolves Sept. 29 at University Gymnasium and falling by the same 3-2 score on Oct. 26 at Stony Brook Arena. UAlbany is looking for its third America East Conference championship, while Stony Brook is in search of its first-ever league title.



UAlbany (20-9, AE 8-4) def. New Hampshire (19-9, AE 8-4), 3-1 (30-20, 32-30, 22-30, 30-17).