Casey Wright & Traci Vandegrift Lead University of Albany Volleyball to Three-Game Win Against Louisiana-Lafayette - UAlbany Sports 2010

Beaumont, Texas - University at Albany's Casey Wright had 14 kills and Traci Vandegrift added 10 in leading their team to a 3-0 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on the first day of the Lamar Volleyball Invitational on Friday, Sept. 17 at McDonald Gym. The Great Danes won by scores of 25-12, 25-21 and 31-29. UAlbany meets McNeese State and the host school on Saturday.

UAlbany (6-4) leaped to an 8-2 lead in the opening set behind Wright and Vandegrift, who combined on five kills in that span. The Great Danes, who have won four of their last five matches, stretched out to a 19-7 advantage when the Ragin' Cajuns' Taylor Meade had an attack error.

In the second set, Meade, who totaled 11 digs, drew her team even at 21 apiece by placing one of her seven kills off an assist from Mandi Gavin. But UAlbany responded with four consecutive points to close out the set. Wright, who totaled 10-plus kills for the sixth time this season, put away two kill attempts in that stretch, including the final point. In between, Louisiana-Lafayette's Lesley Mirarchi had an error and UAlbany sophomore Dunja Prgomet recorded a kill.

Louisiana-Lafayette (7-5) ran off five points in a row to begin the third set. Mirarchi, who has already been named to three all-tournament teams this fall in a breakout campaign, had two of her team-high 14 kills in that outburst. UAlbany regrouped to gain an eight-all tie when freshman setter Kaley Jacobson delivered a service ace. The set produced 13 ties and the Ragin' Cajuns took a 29-28 lead on a service error. However, the Great Danes ran off three unanswered points to wrap up the match. Prgomet, a 6-foot outside hitter, had a kill, before Laurie Gonzalez served an ace. Wright, who hit .357 on 28 attempts in the contest, nailed the final point.

Louisiana-Lafayette's Lindsay Brown, who ranks 17th nationally in digs and is third on her school's career list, had a match-high 26 in that category. Gavin added 30 assists for the Ragin' Cagins, who compete in the Sun Belt Conference. UAlbany's Teresa Coppiellie finished with seven kills and 16 digs, while Gonzalez, a junior defensive specialist, had 21 digs.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information