UAlbany Volleyball Simply Overpowers Siena In Three Set Sweep

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Amanda Cowdrey had 15 kills and Kamisha Kellam added 11 in powering UAlbany to a 3-0 non-conference victory over Siena on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes, who have posted six straight wins, won by scores of 25-20, 25-14 and 25-20. The “Dig Pink” match, televised locally by Time Warner Cable, was part of a national breast cancer awareness rally that has been established by the Side-Out Foundation to help educate and raise funds to fight the deadly disease.

UAlbany (12-8) used nine straight points to an erase a 5-3 deficit and take control in the first set. Cowdrey, a sophomore outside hitter, had four kills in that run. Hillary White and Kalyn Mostert teamed to block Kelly Hummel’s hitting attempt that put their team ahead, before White drilled two kills for an 8-5 advantage. Siena (8-10) closed within 18-16 after a service error, but the Great Danes regrouped with three straight points to pull away. Cate Eckhardt delivered a blast from the mid-court area and Mostert added another kill off a blocker.

In the second set, UAlbany put together a string of 10 consecutive points to break things open. Valerie Sourbeer started the run with one of her seven kills in the match, before Kellam was involved in two consecutive blocks for a 15-10 margin. Mostert, a 6’2” freshman, finished off that decisive stretch with back-to-back kills, the second coming off a back-set from setter Brooke Stanley. Cowdrey, who has reached double-figure kills 14 times this season, dumped another attack from the left side into the middle of the floor for the 25th point.

The Great Danes, who have won seven straight in this series, led 15-13 in the third and final set, but then reeled off six of the contest’s next seven points. Mostert delivered another kill off a back-set, before Stanley garnered another point after saving her team’s third hit from the attack zone. Kellam, who fashioned a .600 hitting percentage in the match and had five total blocks, stuffed Burgandy McCurty’s kill attempt. A hitting error by the Saints gave UAlbany a commanding 21-14 cushion.

“The blocks got us going after a sluggish start,” said Stanley, who passed out 41 assists and toppled the 40-mark for the ninth time this season. “Hillary White got everyone excited with a huge block and a kill in that first set and that just sparked us up. I know a lot people who have been affected by breast cancer. It means a lot that we are able to support them in some way, plus raise a ton of money and put a win on top of the night.”

UAlbany’s White finished with six kills, four digs and four blocks. McCurty had 10 kills and 12 digs for the Saints, who had won six of their last seven starts.

Dig Pink Note: UAlbany Vice President and Director of Athletic Lee McElroy accepted a $2,000 check on behalf of the Side-Out Foundation to support breast cancer awareness from SEFCU President Michael Castellano at the beginning of the third set of Wednesday evening's volleyball match. Damien the Dane helped cheer on the 734 fans who attended the annual crosstown-rivaly match.