Coppiellie Leads University of Albany Over Stony Brook & To America East Volleyball Regular-Season Title - UAlbany Sports 2010

Albany, N.Y. -Teresa Coppiellie just missed out on her 13th double-double of the season, recording a match-high 18 kills and nine digs to lead UAlbany to a 3-1 win over Stony Brook in the America East Conference finale on Sunday afternoon at University Gym. With the victory, the Great Danes claimed the regular-season title for the sixth time in the last seven years, and their third straight. UAlbany won the match with set scores of 26-24, 21-25, 25-13 and 25-22.

Coppiellie, who was honored in a pre-game ceremony as the team's only graduating senior, hit .286 for the match with one solo block. The Great Danes also got double-digit kills from Casey Wright, who totaled 13 on .500 hitting, and Dunja Prgomet, who recorded 12 kills, four digs and one solo block. Traci Vandegrift recorded 13 digs and eight kills, while libero Laurie Gonzalez finished just one dig shy of the match-high total with 19, while also notching one of the Great Danes' six service aces. Setter Abbey Wexel totaled 44 assists and five digs.

Stony Brook (11-17, AE 6-6) was led by Evann Slaughter and Ashley Headen, who both recorded 15 kills for the Seawolves. Slaughter hit .520 for the match, while also totaling three total blocks. Headen led Stony Brook behind the service line, tallying four service aces. Alicia Nelson also finished with double-digit kills, recording 14 to go along with nine digs. Jeanette Gibbs and Greta Strenger led the team defensively with 20 and 10 digs, respectively. Setter Kelsey Sullivan led all players with 50 assists, along with eight digs and one kill.

"The regular-season title is always a goal, but it's not the end-all," said UAlbany head coach MJ Engstrom, who led the Great Danes to a 20-7 overall record and a 10-2 America East Conference slate. "We still have a lot of work to do. There is a lot of parity in the conference this season. We will play Stony Brook in the first round, and we got a good look at them today, but they got a good look at us as well, so I'm sure there will be adjustments made."

The Great Danes have earned the right to host the America East Championship Tournament, which will take place next weekend, with dates and times to be determined. Binghamton and UMBC have also sealed spots in the tournament.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information