University of Albany Great Dane Volleyball Set to Host UAlbany Classic at University Gymnasium on Sept. 4-5 - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - The University at Albany volleyball team is set to host the UAlbany Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Great Danes will welcome Lamar University, Hofstra University and Seton Hall University to the University Gymnasium for six matches over the two-day tournament.

UAlbany (0-3) won its third consecutive America East Conference championship last season after posting a 23-9 overall record and going 12-0 in league play to record the first undefeated season in the conference since 2000. The Great Danes return seniors Valerie Sourbeer and Hillary White, who averaged 2.58 and 1.89 kills per set, respectively. White is also the team's top returning blocker, after recording 94 total blocks last season. America East Conference Setter of the Year Brooke Stanley will quarterback the Great Dane offense again in 2009, after leading the league with 10.47 assists per set a year ago. Second-year head coach MJ Engstrom also brought in a strong group of freshmen who will look to make an impact offensively and defensively. The Great Danes opened the season with three losses at the MSU Showcase, dropping matches to North Carolina, Michigan State and 12th-ranked Southern California.

Coming off last season's 17-12 mark and NCAA Tournament appearance, Lamar (0-3) welcomes back three starters and five letterwinners from a squad that captured the 2008 Southland Conference title. Head coach Justin Gibert, now in his fifth season, guided Lamar to its first trip to the NCAAs since 1993. The Cardinals will be led offensively by seniors Kaci Brewer and Lauren Holdorff, who recorded 2.57 and 2.10 kills per set, respectively, last season. Brewer was also one of Lamar's top defensive players, averaging 2.35 digs per set, while Holdorff paced the squad with 89 total blocks. Adrienne Meengs, the 2007 Southland Conference Setter of the Year, missed most of last season due to illness, but returned to average 8.34 assists per set in the Cardinals' title run. Lamar opened up the 2009 campaign with three losses at the Titan Classic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton.

In 2008, Seton Hall finished 14-15 overall, with a 6-8 Big East Conference record, for the second straight year. The Pirates are led by senior Allie Matters, who was named Seton Hall's Co-Female Athlete of the Year. Matters led the Big East at 5.10 digs per set and will enter her senior season 165 digs shy of breaking the SHU career record. Offensively, the Pirates will rely on junior outside hitter Sarah Osmun to carry the load. She led the team in kills for the second straight year and finished her sophomore campaign averaging 3.32 kills per set. The Pirates kicked off the 2009 season at the University at Buffalo Invitational, going 2-1 at the tournament, falling to Fordham and Boston College before defeating the host Bulls in the finale.

Hofstra (0-3) went 18-14 last season and welcomes back seven players from the 2008 squad. Second-year head coach Kristina Hernandez will count on seniors Monica Knight and Chrissey Cruz to pace the Pride. Knight averaged 2.54 kills and 2.83 digs per set last season, and is the only returning outside hitter on the team. She also finished with 64 total blocks and a team-high 35 service aces. Cruz will look to handle most of the setting duties for the Pride this season after splitting time in 2008. Cruz saw action in 23 matches as a junior, averaging a team-best 9.28 assists per set and contributing 2.54 digs per set. Hofstra went 0-3 at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational to start the season, falling to Rhode Island, Binghamton and Marshall.

Play will begin at the UAlbany Classic with Seton Hall taking on Lamar at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by UAlbany and Hofstra at 7 p.m. Lamar and Hofstra will square off first on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., with UAlbany hosting Seton Hall at 12:30. The Pirates will take on Hofstra at 4:30 p.m. before the Great Danes play Lamar in the finale at 7 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany Classic

Sept. 4-5, PE Gymnasium

Friday, Sept. 4

Seton Hall vs. Lamar, 4:30 p.m.

UAlbany vs. Hofstra, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 5

Lamar vs. Hofstra, 10 a.m.

UAlbany vs. Seton Hall, 12:30 p.m.

Seton Hall vs. Hofstra, 4:30 p.m.

UAlbany vs. Lamar, 7 p.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information