University of Albany Volleyball Sweeps Binghamton in Three Sets; Tied for First in America East Standings UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Casey Wright recorded a match-high 16 kills on .481 hitting to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 sweep of Binghamton in America East Conference volleyball action on Sunday afternoon at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes swept the Bearcats with set scores of 25-16, 25-17 and 25-15.

UAlbany came out firing, building up a quick 9-3 advantage in the first set on a kill by Wright, prompting Binghamton to take an early timeout. The Bearcats regrouped and scored the next four points to pull within 9-7, but Wright smacked another one of her five kills in the set to end the rally and put the Great Danes back in control. UAlbany pulled ahead, 14-10, on a kill by Samantha Brostrom, but a kill by Binghamton's Kristin Hovie, followed by two Great Dane errors allowed the Bearcats to get within a point. A timeout by UAlbany refocused the Great Danes, who quickly jumped back ahead, getting to set point on back-to-back kills by Gabby Whitworth. A Binghamton attack error ended the set and gave UAlbany a 1-0 match lead.

The teams played a closer start to the second set, tying the score six times before UAlbany pulled ahead, 18-13, behind the service game of Abbey Wexel. A kill by Annelot Nieuwenhuis ended the rally, but Wright smashed a kill up the middle and put The Great Danes back in control. Dunja Prgomet, who recorded two service aces on the day, notched one on her first serve, and then served for three additional points to put the Great Danes up by ten, 23-13. Grace Vickers recorded a kill and then took over serve for Binghamton and attempted to start a rally for the Bearcats, pulling within 23-17. Wright took an assist from Stanley to get UAlbany to set point, and then recorded a kill off her own serve to end the set.

UAlbany wasted no time after the break, and built up a 12-6 lead on back-to-back kills by Brostrom. Binghamton pulled to within four, 14-10, on a service ace by Julie Chambers, but the Great Danes would not fold, building up a 19-11 advantage on the team's fifth ace of the day, served up by Brostrom. Wright was involved the the final four points of the match, recording three kills, including the match-winner, and combining with Stanley on a block for set point.

Brostrom added nine kills in the match, going without an error in 24 attempts for a .375 hitting percentage, while also coming up with 11 digs. Stanley quarterbacked the Great Danes to a .352 team hitting percentage, finishing with 36 assists, five digs, three kills and two blocks. Laurie Gonzalez recorded 12 digs, and now needs just ten digs to set the UAlbany career record.

Binghamton (10-15, AE 2-5) was led by Hovie and Nieuwenhuis, who each totaled nine kills. Libero Xiomara Ortiz finished with 11 digs, while Emily Litwin added 10 digs defensively. Setter Amanda Dettmann finished with 29 assists and eight digs.

UAlbany (13-8, AE 7-1) will return to action on Friday, hosting UMBC in America East action at 7 p.m. The Great Danes posted a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Retrievers earlier this season in Baltimore.