University of Albany Volleyball Remains Undefeated in America East Play, Sweeping Stony Brook, 3-0 - UAlbany Sports 2009

Valerie Sourbeer finished with a match-high 17 kills, while Casey Wright (Ballston Spa) recorded a .583 hitting percentage with eight kills to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 sweep of Stony Brook in America East Conference volleyball action on Sunday afternoon. The Great Danes won the match with set scores of 25-18, 25-23 and 25-20.

The Great Danes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first set behind the service game of Brooke Stanley. The Seawolves attempted to fight back, pulling within 8-5 on a UAlbany handling error, but the Great Danes continued to roll, getting ahead, 16-8 on a Wright kill. After a kill by Stanley gave UAlbany a 19-11 advantage, Laurie Gonzalez served for four straight points, getting a block assist from Hillary White and Kalyn Mostert to put the Great Danes up, 23-11. Stony Brook's Harmonie Calinda served for four points, attempting to start a rally for the Seawolves, but a kill from White on set point gave UAlbany the win.

UAlbany came out firing again in the second set, getting a kill from Sourbeer on the opening serve, followed by four straight service points from Stanley, giving the Great Danes an early 5-0 advantage. Stony Brook battled back successfully in the set, tying the match at 8-8 behind the service game of Sally Downs. The Seawolves took their first lead of the match on a UAlbany attack error, and was able to get ahead, 14-11, before Sourbeer ended the rally with a kill. The Great Danes rallied to tie the set at 19-19 and regained the lead behind Stanley's serve, getting consecutive kills from Sourbeer to put UAlbany up 23-21. Sourbeer gave the Great Danes set point, but Lisa Doremus kept Stony Brook alive. Wright took an assist from Stanley off Stony Brook's serve to end the set in UAlbany's favor.

Stanley's service game continued to pace the Great Danes in the final set, as the junior setter served for five straight points to open up play. Stony Brook attempted to regain control with two service aces by Lindsey Gordon, pulling within 6-5, but UAlbany refused to back down. Wright smashed a kill to give the Great Danes a 15-9 advantage, before the teams exchanged several points, with UAlbany holding onto a six-point advantage, getting a kill from Stanley to set the score at 21-15. Sourbeer crushed three kills in the late going, including getting the Great Danes to set point at 24-18. Stony Brook got kills from Doremus and Ashley Headen to stay alive, but Stanley took an assist from Teresa Coppiellie to get UAlbany its 15th straight win.

Sourbeer's .486 hitting percentage helped UAlbany hit .376 as a team. White and Coppiellie also finished with double-digit kill totals, tallying 12 and 10, respectively. Stanley finished with a double-double of 46 assists and 11 digs, while Gonzalez led all players with 23 digs.

Calinda led Stony Brook with 14 kills, as UAlbany held the Seawolves to a .197 team hitting percentage. Calinda also recorded two of Stony Brook's six service aces and finished with seven digs. Setter Corinne Perry finished with 27 assists and seven digs, while Jeanette Gibbs totaled 20 digs for Stony Brook (13-12, AE 5-4).

UAlbany (19-6, AE 9-0) will return to action on Saturday, hosting Hartford at 4 p.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information