University of Albany's Brooke Stanley & Dunja Prgomet Lead UAlbany to Three-Set Sweep of Yale in Home Opener - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Brooke Stanley recorded a double-double of 40 assists and 12 digs, while Dunja Prgomet totaled a match-high 16 kills and 11 digs to lead UAlbany to a three-set sweep of Yale in non-conference volleyball action on Wednesday evening at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes defeated the Bulldogs with set scores of 33-31, 25-13 and 29-27.

A tightly contested first set sent the teams into extra points. Yale got up 11-6, early on a service ace by Mollie Rogers, but UAlbany was able to pull within one point at 15-14, on one of Prgomet's seven kills in the set. The Great Danes took advantage of two straight attack errors by the Bulldogs to take a 17-16 advantage, but Bridget Hearst tied the set at 18-18 on a kill. UAlbany regained its advantage with a block by Gabby Whitworth and Traci Vandegrift, and got to set point on a kill by Casey Wright. However, Yale rattled off four quick points to take over set point, and the teams rallied back and forth for the remainder of the set. Wright took an assist from Stanley to put the Great Danes up, 32-31, before Stanley ended the set in UAlbany's favor with a kill on the next possession.

The Great Danes rolled in the second set, as Laurie Gonzalez served for six consecutive points, including a service ace, putting UAlbany up, 10-2, in the early going. Allie Frappier ended the UAlbany rally, but the Bulldogs could not overcome the deficit. The Great Danes put up six blocks in the set, including back-to-back stuffs by Whitworth ansd Samantha Brostrom. Prgomet had a solo block to put UAlbany up by 10, 22-12, before Frappier took an assist from Kendall Polan to attempt a Yale comeback. Progomet and Stanley connected on consecutive kills, while Brostrom ended the set at 25-13.

Yale would not give in easily, as the Bulldogs forced extra points again in the third set before UAlbany came away with the sweep victory. Yale jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage before the Great Danes battled back to take tie the match at 9-9 on a Brostrom kill. A Bulldog error put the service game in Stanley's hands, where she served for four straight points, including two service aces, to put the Great Danes on top, 14-12. After Frappier recorded back-to-back kills for Yale, Whitworth responded with the same for UAlbany, and Brostrom served for four consecutive points to put the Great Danes ahead, 19-14. Yale rebounded, and tied the match at 23-23 on a block by Rogers and Taylor Cramm, before UAlbany got to match point on a kill by Wright. Erica Reetz hit two straight kills to give Yale a chance to extend the match, but Stanley took an assist from Prgomet to tie the match at 26-26. After Prgomet gave the Great Danes their third match point, she combined with Wright to end the match in the Great Danes favor with a block.

Brostrom totaled 13 kills and 16 digs for UAlbany, while Gonzalez led all players with 20 digs. The Great Danes outblocked the Bulldogs, 11-4, getting four blocks assists each from Wright and Whitworth. Stanley, who also finished with seven kills in the match, quarterbacked the Great Danes to a .244 team hitting percentage, while UAlbany held Yale to .150 hitting as a team.

Yale (6-4) was led by Frappier with 10 kills and 13 digs, while setter Polan also finished with a double-double of 34 assists and 12 digs. Reetz led the Bulldogs defensively with 17 digs, while Rogers totaled nine kills, nine digs and served up both of the team's aces in the match.

UAlbany (6-7) will return to action on Sunday, kicking off America East Conference play at Binghamton at 5 p.m

Courtesy: UAlbany Athletics