University of Albany Volleyball Sweeps Maryland in Final Match of Sports Imports Classic - UAlbany Sports 2011

Columbus, Ohio - Freshman Samantha Brostrom recorded a match-high 16 kills on .469 hitting to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 sweep of Maryland in non-conference volleyball action at the Sports Imports Classic at St. John Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Great Danes defeated the Terps with set scores of 33-31, 25-23 and 25-8 in their final match of the tournament.

The first set went into extra points, after a back-and-forth set between the two teams. UAlbany jumped out to an early lead on three straight points served by Brooke Stanley, but Maryland responded to take a 12-6 advantage on the service game of Sarah Harper. Dunja Prgomet and Abbey Wexel combined to serve for eight points, including one service ace apiece, putting the Great Danes back on top, 18-16, before a UAlbany attack error ended the rally. The teams exchanged points, and UAlbany got back-to-back kills by Samantha Brostrom to tie the score at 25-25. Maddi Lee gave Maryland set point at 31-30, but Casey Wright took an assist from Stanley for one of her nine kills, putting the ball in Wexel's hands behind the service line. Wexel notched two straight service aces to end the set in UAlbany's favor.

The teams played a close second set as well, as the score was tied five times in the early goings. A kill by Traci Vandegrift set that fifth tie at 15-15, and Laurie Gonzalez served for three straight points to put the Great Danes up, 18-15, forcing Maryland to take a timeout. The Terps took advantage of two UAlbany misplays to tie the set at 19-19, and took a 21-20 advantage on a kill by Remy McBain. Kills by Brostrom tied the set at 21-21 and 22-22, before a Maryland attack error knotted up the set for a final time at 23-23. Brostrom served for the final two points of the set, getting a kill from Gabby Whitworth to get to set point, and ending the match on a Terps attack error.

UAlbany cruised in the final set, getting a kill from Prgomet to set the score at 4-2 and give Gonzalez the service game. Gonzalez, who finished with a match-high 14 digs, served for nine straight points, including one service ace and three straight blocks, all involving Wright. Carlisle Abele ended the rally for Maryland with a kill, and Lee connected on kill as well to pull the Terps within 10 points at 14-4. However, Lindsey McCloskey took over service for the Great Danes after a Progmet kill and served for four consecutive points, starting with a service ace, followed by a kill by Prgomet and two straight by Wright. After taking a 19-5 lead on a kill by McCloskey, Brostrom recorded the next three kills for UAlbany, and then served for the final three points, ending the match on a service ace.

Wright finished with nine total blocks, including three solo, while hitting .429 for the match. Stanley recorded 37 assists to go along with six digs and four kills, while Prgomet totaled seven kills, eight digs and two total blocks. The Great Danes hit .299 for the match as a team and outblocked the Terps, 11-3.

Lee finished with a team-high 10 kills for Maryland (6-5), while Ashleigh Crutcher totaled a team-high nine digs for the Terps. Caitlin Adams added eight kills, while Remy McBain totaled 32 assists, four kills and four digs from the setter position. McBain also hit a team-best .333, as the Terps were held to a .158 team hitting percentage.

UAlbany (5-7) will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Yale in the first home match of the season at University Gym at 7 p.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics