UAlbany Great Danes Split Matches with Arkansas and Middle Tennessee on Final Day of Tournament

Murfreesboro, Tenn. - Teresa Coppiellie recorded 13 kills to lead the UAlbany volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Arkansas, the program's first win over a Southeastern Conference team, on Saturday afternoon at the Middle Tennessee Invite at Memorial Gym. The Great Danes later fell to the host Blue Raiders, 3-0 in the tournament finale. UAlbany defeated the Razorbacks with scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-17, before falling to Middle Tennessee by scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-19.

In the win over Arkansas, Coppiellie totaled her 13 kills on a .440 hitting percentage to go along with six digs and three solo blocks. Casey Wright and Traci Vandegrift helped lead the Great Danes with eight and seven kills respectively, while setter Kaley Jacobson finished with 30 assists and five digs. Libero Laurie Gonzalez, who was named to the all-tournament team, recorded 12 digs to go along with three service aces. Defensive specialist Abbey Wexel also added three service aces for the Great Danes, along with six digs to help UAlbany hold the Razorbacks to a .196 team hitting percentage.

Arkansas (6-4) was led by Jasmine Norton with 19 kills, while Cassie Clarke totaled a match-high 37 assists and nine digs. The Razorbacks had seven total team blocks, led by Janeliss Torres, who had three block assists to go along with six kills on a .625 hitting percentage.

Later in the day, UAlbany was swept in three sets by Middle Tennessee, despite 10 kills from Wright. Coppiellie, who was named to the all-tournament team, added another nine kills and seven digs to her daily total, while Jacobson finished with 27 assists and five digs. Dunja Progomet added eight kills, five digs and two solo blocks for the Great Danes, along with a .444 hitting percentage.

Izabela Kozon and Ashley Adams led Middle Tennessee (7-4) with 18 and 17 kills, respectively. Morgan Peterson finished with 29 assists, while Brynne Henderson led the Blue Raiders defensively with 12 digs. Middle Tennessee finished with a .408 hitting percentage, led by a .471 hitting performance by Maria Szivos, who added nine kills, four digs and one block assist.

UAlbany (5-4) will return to action on Friday, Sept. 17, taking on Louisiana-Lafayette on the first day of the Lamar Tournament in Beaumont, Texas.



Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information