UAlbany Volleyball Sweeps Season Series With UMBC With 3-1 Victory

UAlbany Volleyball Sweeps Season Series With UMBC With 3-1Victory. More to come...

Cowdrey and Kellam Lead UAlbany Volleyball to Ninth Straight Win, Defeating UMBC, 3-1
Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Sophomore outside hitter Amanda Cowdrey recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 18 digs, while senior middle blocker Kamisha Kellam finished with 11 kills and three blocks to lead the UAlbany volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over America East Conference rival UMBC on Sunday afternoon. It was the ninth straight win for the Great Danes, who remain undefeated in league play. UAlbany defeated the Retrievers with scores of 25-13, 25-18, 15-25 and 25-20.

The Great Danes came out firing in the first set, as Hillary White served for four straight points to put UAlbany up. The Great Danes built up a 14-5 advantage behind the service game of Cowdrey, while sophomore Brooke Stanley took an assist from Valerie Sourbeer for the point. UAlbany built up a 10-point lead, getting ahead 20-10 on a kill by freshman Kalyn Mostert. Laurie Gonzalez served for two points later in the match, but UMBC’s Ashley Oscars recorded a kill on set point to keep the Retrievers alive. A UMBC service error ended the set in UAlbany’s favor.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the second set, UMBC came back to tie the set at 3-3 on a kill by Oscars. Back-to-back kills by Sarah Hill put the Retrievers ahead, but UAlbany bounced back with kills from White and Cowdrey to tie the score at 5-5. The teams exchanged points throughout the match, before UAlbany broke away from a 16-16 tie behind White’s service game. She served for five straight points before Oscars ended the rally to pull the Retrievers back within 21-17. UMBC had consecutive attack errors and a service error to give the ball back to UAlbany, and Teresa Coppiellie recorded a service ace to end the set.

UMBC returned from the break and built up a 14-4 lead on UAlbany to start the third set. Oscars recorded three straight kills and Iman Kennedy added another to give the Retrievers the 10-point advantage. UMBC continued to fire away, holding onto the 10-point lead throughout the remainder of the set. Cate Eckhardt recorded a kill on set point to keep the Great Danes in contention, but a UAlbany attack error ended the set with UMBC on top.

The Retrievers came out quick in the final set as well, putting up two unanswered points to start. UAlbany rallied back, tying the set at 3-3 with an Eckhardt service ace. Stanley served for four straight points and recorded a kill to put UAlbany up 11-5. UMBC pulled back into the set as Sarah Ball served for three points and Hill took the service game back from UAlbany with a kill. Alyssa Lang then served for three more points to pull the Retrievers within 18-17 before a White kill ended the rally. White added another of her nine kills to put the Great Danes up, 22-20 and then served for the match’s final three points, ending with a service ace.

Stanley finished with a double-double for UAlbany, recording 41 assists and 13 digs, along with eight kills, hitting .571 for the match. Kellam added seven digs, while Gonzalez led the team defensively with a team-high 19 digs. UMBC had three players finish with double-digit kill totals, led by Oscars with 16. Hill added 15, while Land tallied 13 kills and 16 digs. Setter Kira Giles also finished with a double-double, recording 40 assists and 11 digs for the UMBC (15-9, AE 4-3).

UAlbany (15-8, AE 7-0) returns to action on Friday, Oct. 31, visiting conference opponent New Hampshire at 7 p.m.

UAlbany (15-8, AE 7-0) def. UMBC (15-9, AE 4-3), 3-1 (25-13, 25-18, 15-25, 25-20)