University of Albany Volleyball Heads to Florida State in First Round of NCAA Tournament - UAlbany sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - The 2011 America East Conference Volleyball Champion UAlbany Great Danes will head to 12th-seeded Florida State to take on the Seminoles in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 2. UAlbany, which finished up the regular season with a 21-8 overall record, will face the host Seminoles, who finished up at 24-6 this season, at 7 p.m. on Friday. Also playing in Tallahassee will be Cincinnati (26-9) and Samford (29-4).

UAlbany earned the America East's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament after winning the program's sixth league title this season. The Great Danes are led by the conference's Setter of the Year, senior Brooke Stanley, who averaged a league best 10.97 assists per set and added 2.42 digs and a team-best 33 service aces. Senior Laurie Gonzalez became the first player in league history to be named the Defensive Specialist of the Year four consecutive times after averaging 5.33 digs per set.

The Great Danes also have offensive power from all-conference first-team member Casey Wright and all-rookie team selection Samantha Brostrom. Wright, a senior middle blocker, averaged 3.37 kills on .393 hitting, while also coming up with 79 total blocks during the regular season. Brostrom became one of the Great Danes' top all-around players, averaging 2.81 kills and 2.09 digs per set.

Florida State claimed the Atlantic Coast Conference championship title, led by Jekaterina Stepanova, who averaged 3.26 kills per set. Setters Sarah Wickstrom and Duygu Duzceler split time, averaging 5.06 and 6.17 assists per set, respectively. Katie Mosher led the team defensively, coming up with 4.57 digs per set. Florida State recorded 3.00 blocks per set over the regular season, led by Ashley Neff, who recorded 175 total blocks.

UAlbany, led by America East Coach of the Year MJ Engstrom, met Florida State earlier this year. The Seminoles came away with a 3-0 victory in that match, paced by Visnja Djurdjevic, who finished with a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs.

"They are nationally ranked, but we are still confident," said Stanley, who totaled 28 assists, seven digs and two service aces in the first match against the Seminoles. "We have nothing to lose. We have a different lineup then when we played them the first time. We are confident and ready to fight with everything we've got."

College Sports Madness Names University of Albany's Gerardo Suero America East Basketball Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2011

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Gerardo Suero has been chosen by College Sports Madness as the America East Conference Player of the Week for his performance during a period from Nov. 21-27. The Great Danes won three of four games during that stretch.

Suero, a 6-foot-4 guard from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, averaged 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. He scored 20-plus points in back-to-back home victories against Navy (69-62) and Fairleigh Dickinson (81-62). Suero struck for 23 points off the bench against FDU, including 12-of-12 from the line. He totaled 21 points and six rebounds in the home opener vs. Navy and made all six free throw attempts in the closing stages of the game when the Midshipmen attempted to rally from a 20-point deficit. The junior also had 16 points in an 85-49 victory over Monmouth in the NIT Season Tip-Off's third round, the second-largest win margin in the program's Division I history.

Suero is third among the America East Conference scoring leaders and 20th nationally at 21.0 points per game. He has netted 20 or more points on four occasions this season. He also averages 5.6 rebounds, plus is shooting 50 percent from the field and 79.7 percent from the foul line.

University of Albany Men's Basketball Has Four in Twin Figures in 81-62 Win Against Fairleigh Dickinson at SEFCU Arena - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Gerardo Suero had 23 points to pace four players in double figures in leading UAlbany to an 81-62 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, Nov. 27 at SEFCU Arena.

The opening half featured eight lead changes and six ties. Fairleigh Dickinson (1-4) reversed a 17-11 deficit with a 10-3 run to go in front. Mouhamed Lo sliced the lead in half with a conventional three-point play. Lonnie Hayes later canned a three-point field goal and Melquan Bolding followed his own miss for a 21-20 advantage.

The Knights were still ahead 28-26 after Bolding hit a jumper when he moved into the lane. But the Great Danes reeled off 13 consecutive points over the final three minutes and 46 seconds of the half. Ralph Watts connected on a drive in transition in regaining the lead. Suero, the team's leading scorer who did not start due to a mild ankle sprain, followed with a basket and two free throws. Logan Aronhalt nailed a long-range 3-pointer from the left side to complete the outburst.

UAlbany (4-3) still led 47-34 in the second half, but then took firm control with seven unanswered. Blake Metcalf, a 6-foot-9 junior who tallied a career-high 14 points on 7-of-7 from the floor, scored on the left baseline and followed a missed fastbreak layup. Jayson Guerrier, who netted 13 points off the bench, added an offensive rebound basket.

"No one expects me to score those kinds of points on a day-to-day basis," Metcalf stated. "I am getting better at playing defense and helping out the team like I normally would. I was at the right place and at the right time for most of the game. The guards did all the work and I just finished it off."

The Great Danes, who held FDU to 32.3-percent shooting after halftime, led by as much as 24 in the late stages of the contest. Suero, who had 14 second-half points, gave his team its biggest advantage by converting twice off fastbreak passes and making a pair of free throws.

"We played well the last 24 minutes and got contributions from every guy," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team was coming off a victory against Navy two days ago. "If we put 70-plus points up every night, we are going to be successful. I see this team getting better."

Hayes, a 6-foot junior, led the Knights with 23 points, while Kinu Rochford had 11 points and seven rebounds. Aronhalt was the fourth UAlbany player in double digits with 15 points.

Paw Prints: UAlbany defeated Fairleigh Dickinson for the second year in a row after posting a 72-46 decision last season ... the Great Danes are above the .500 mark after the opening seven games for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign ... Blake Metcalf and Jayson Guerrier combined to make all 13 of their field goal attempts ... Metcalf's previous career-high scoring total was 11 against Siena on Dec. 4, 2010 ... Logan Aronhalt added a career-best five assists and eight rebounds to go with his double-digit scoring figure ... Gerardo Suero netted 20-plus points for the fourth time this season.

University of Albany W Basketball Overhauls Saint Francis in Second Half for 50-34 Non-League Win at SEFCU Arena - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Ebone Henry had 11 points and nine rebounds as UAlbany overcame a second-half deficit en route to a 50-34 non-conference victory over Saint Francis, N.Y. on Sunday, Nov. 27 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes snapped a three-game skid.

Saint Francis (1-4) took a 34-32 when Jessica Kaufman, who had 10 points, made a jumper in the lane with 8:45 remaining. But the Great Danes held the visitors scoreless the rest of the way and in the process ran off 18 consecutive points. Henry connected on a three-point play that put her team ahead for good after she was fouled making a steal and a layup. The junior guard finished with a career-best eight steals.

The Great Danes' decisive run was fueled by the first appearance of the season by Megan Craig, a 6-foot-8 freshman from New Zealand. Craig canned a turnaround bank shot from left of the lane, before Cassandra Callaway made an elbow jumper and Julie Forester sank a 14-footer from the right. Adrienne Jones' free throw pushed the lead to double figures at 44-34 with 2:25 to play.

"It was an overall team effort," said UAlbany coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, whose team improved to 3-3. "We played a lot of people, we knew we had to keep everyone fresh. Megan (Craig) is such a presence defensively. Once they got inside, she is there to block the shot, so that forced them to the outside."

Saint Francis took a 23-21 lead to the intermission despite missing their opening nine field goal attempts. The Great Danes ran off nine straight points during the drought. Keyana Williams made two free throws and hit a jumper in the lane.

Jasmin Robinson, who had all 11 of her points in the first half, led the comeback. Her conventional three-point play sliced the deficit to 13-12, before Kaufman made a fadeaway from right of the lane to put her team ahead. UAlbany later drew even at 21 apiece on Jones' two foul shots. Kim Snauwaert connected on a jump hook while moving across the lane to give her team a halftime lead.

"We knew we had to go hard, and that we had Megan to help in the back,' Henry offered. "She made us go harder defensivelyt on the outside. We wanted to break our losing streak, so we were ready to do whatever it took."

Callaway scored nine points for the Great Danes, who held Saint Francis to 4-of-18 from the floor in the final period. The Terriers shot 30.8 percent overall. Forster, a 6-foot junior, added six points and nine rebounds, while Craig tallied six points in 10 minutes of action.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes held St. Francis, N.Y. to the lowest point total by an opponent this season ... Adrienne Jones totaled seven points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in her third starting assignment of the year ... Keyana Williams had six points off bench, one of six players to reach that total ... Megan Craig was one of seven to play double-figure minutes.

Seawolves Holds Off Great Danes, 31-28, in First Round of NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Safety Dominick Reyes intercepted a tipped pass in the back of the end zone with 47.4 seconds remaining, as Stony Brook held off UAlbany, 31-28, in the first round of the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 26 at LaValle Stadium.

UAlbany (8-4) drove 15 plays from its own 45-yard line in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Dan Di Lella, a senior quarterback, found Nick Hutcherson on fourth-and-11 to keep the march moving. He later threw third-down completions to tailback Andrew Smith and fullback Justin Peterson. But on second-and-goal from the Stony Brook three-yard line, Di Lella rolled to his right and threw for tight end Brian Parker in the back of the end zone. Cornerback Donald Porter tipped the high pass and Reyes came down with the ball inside the end line.

"This something that I will have to live with the rest of my life," said Di Lella, who went 24-of-43 through the air for 223 yards. "I should have thrown the ball into the stands and let (Drew) Smith run in for a touchdown on the next play. We used the pass to set up the run the entire day."

Stony Brook (9-3) rallied from a 28-10 deficit in the third quarter to go ahead. Brock Jackolski, a first-team all-league running back who ran for 103 yards and two scores, reached paydirt on a six-yard dash over the right side. After Di Lella threw the first of two interceptions, the Seawolves struck quickly. Quarterback Kyle Essington, using a pump fake, found Jackolski all alone on the right sideline to connect on a 55-yard scoring play.

The Seawolves, who won the Big South Conference championship to earn their NCAA berth and are No. 22 nationally, started quickly on their next series. Essington, who completed 12 of 24 attempts for 258 yards, found Kevin Norrell for 38 yards to start the sequence. After Essington threw a 17-yard completion to Jordan Gush, Jackolski rumbled over right tackle on an 11-yard touchdown runn for a 31-28 lead with 12:40 remaining.

"The momentum swung back and forth throughout the game," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who suffered a knee injury late in the second quarter when he took a hit on the sideline. "We had great difficulty in pounding the ball and give Stony Brook credit for stopping the run. In these type of situations, you have to things correct all the time and we failed to cash in."

In the first half, UAlbany's defense stiffened to thwart a pair of Stony Brook scoring threats. The Great Danes stopped running back Miguel Maysonet on fourth-and-one inside the Great Danes' 10-yard line. The Seawolves had another series end when Wesley Skiffington's 48-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

The Great Danes came back with two scores, one by the offense and one on special teams, to take a 14-0 lead. A flea-flicker for 25 yards jump-started a 10-play march. Di Lella kept the drive alive with a third-down completion and Smith jumped over right guard on a one-yard touchdown run. Defensive end Dean Mercuris blocked Luke Allen's punt attempt with his left hand and Parker raced 21 yards for a touchdown with the loose ball on second play of the second quarter.

The Seawolves regrouped with 10 straight points. Skiffington ended an 11-play drive with a 39-yard field goal. Stony Brook then worked its way from midfield for a touchdown. Jackolski's 11-yard run and a facemask penalty aided the sequence. Essington rolled right and hit Matt Brevi with an 11-yard scoring pass. The Great Danes took a 21-10 lead to the intermission by moving the length of the field in 39.4 seconds. Di Lella fired a 44-yard strike to wide receiver Cole King, who carried two defenders across the goal line for the touchdown.

UAlbany went 75 yards in four plays with the second-half kickoff to build a 28-10 advantage. The Northeast Conference co-champions started the drive with a 20-yard run by tailback Dillon Romain. Following a first-down catch by Ryan Kirchner to the SBU 43, Smith, a junior tailback, took a pitch off a reverse and hooked up with Kirchner on a 43-yard touchdown pass. Kirchner caught 12 passes for 143 yards.

"I thought we had them," offered defensive end Eddie Delaney, who had four tackles in a return to his native of Long Island. "Everyone has to take some blame (for the loss). They have a helluva team. It was a tough way to go out, but I wouldn't have wanted go through this season with any other group of guys."

Paw Prints: UAlbany made its first NCAA appearance since 1997 when the Great Danes competed as an NCAA Division III program ... Stony Brook advanced to play Sam Houston State, the nation's top-ranked team, in the second round ... UAlbany is the second Northeast Conference champion to receive an automatic berth ... QB Dan Di Lella eclipsed Joe Savino's 1997 single-season passing record by throwing for 2 548 yards, plus also owns another mark with 25 TD passes ... Ryan Kirchner's 12 receptions were one off the school's single-game record that was established in 1994 ... Andrew Smith had 123 all-purpose yards, his 10th straight game topping the century mark ... Smith's four pass attempts this season went for touchdowns ... Smith rushed for 1,092 yards, the fifth-best single-season mark ... DE Marc Wargo matched a career-high with 1.5 sacks ... Herb Glass moved into second place on the career scoring chart with 248 points ... UAlbany coach Bob Ford, who has 255 career victories, wrapped up his 39th varsity season with his fifth NEC championship.

UAlbany Meets Stony Brook in the First Round of the NCAA Div. I FCS Playoffs on Saturday

Stony Brook, N.Y. - UAlbany and Stony Brook battle in the first round the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 26 at LaValle Stadium. Kickoff is 2:00 p.m. ESPN3 will televise the game with Shawn Kenney and Rob Harley as the announcers. Fans can listen to the game on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Zach Bye providing the coverage.

Stony Brook (8-3) won the Big South Conference championship after defeating Liberty, 41-31, on Nov. 19. The Seawolves are No. 22 in the current Sports Network national poll. After opening with three non-league losses, SBU coach Chuck Priore's squad reeled off eight consecutive wins. The offense is dynamic and leads the nation in scoring (39.6 ppg) and is third in rushing (287.4 pg). The Seawolves boast two 1,000-yard rushers in Miguel Maysonet and Brock Jackolski. Each running back came to Stony Brook after Hofstra eliminated its football program and are first-team all-conference performers. Maysonet is second among the NCAA rushing leaders with 1,485 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jackolski is second among active NCAA leaders with 6,007 career all-purpose yards. He is third nationally in that category at 186.7 yards per game. He has run for 1,229 yards and 13 TDs, plus is third among the FCS leaders in kickoff returns (32.3 avg.) QB Kyle Essington was named the Big South player of the week after throwing three scoring passes vs. Liberty. The California native has passed for 1,435 yards and 16 touchdowns. Jordan Gush and Kevin Norrell are the favorite targets with 35 and 33 receptions, respectively. Matt Brevi, a second-team All-Big South receiver, has 26 catches for 470 yards and five TDs. Michael Bamiro (6-8, 350) starts at right tackle.

The Seawolves are fourth in turnover margin (+1.45) and ninth in rushing yards allowed (95.6 ypg) among the Division I FCS' top defenses. Boston College transfer Dan Mulrooney has 63 tackles and three fumble recoveries in his first season. Jawara Dudley, who was the team's best rookie defender as a freshman, adds 61 tackles and 4.5 sacks. CB Donald Porter is tied for eighth nationally with six interceptions, plus has six pass break-ups. He moved from wide receiver to defense last year. CB Al-Majid Hutchins, a Rutgers transfer, was the team's top tackler with 11 against Liberty. S Dominick Reyes contributes 52 tackles, two fumbles forced, two recoveries and three pass break-ups. PK Wesley Skiffington, a second-team All-Big South pick as a sophomore, has made 8 of 11 field goals and 53 of 55 PATs.

UAlbany (8-3) earned a share of its fifth Northeast Conference championship in last Saturday's 31-21 victory over Sacred Heart. Head coach Bob Ford, who has 255 career victories, has led the program to its first NCAA FCS postseason appearance. QB Dan Di Lella has passed for 2,235 yards and 24 touchdowns. The senior broke a single-season TD pass mark that had stood for 14 years. TB Andrew Smith is the ninth UAlbany players to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He has registered 100-plus all-purpose yards in nine consecutive games. WR Ryan Kirchner had 44 receptions for 472 yards and nine scores. Kirchner set the program's FCS record with three touchdown catches last week.

DE Eddie Delaney and DT Zach Gallo, a pair of senior defensive linemen, lead the defense. Delaney has established UAlbany's single-season FCS sacks mark with 8.5, while Gallo (58 tackles) was chosen NEC defensive player of the week for the second time this year. His third-quarter interception led to the go-ahead touchdown. Jon Morgan, a junior inside linebacker, is first on the team in tackles with 97, including 47 unassisted. S Jake Ciccarello (53 tackles) and CB Leon Saddler, who has two interceptions and two pass break-ups, are solid in the secondary. PK Herb Glass, who has eclipsed a single-season standard with 47 PATs, and Paul Layton, the nation's sixth-leading punter with a 43.0 average, are a top-flight special teams' tandem.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Stony Brook are meeting for the 15th time ... the Great Danes have won 10 of the previous 14 contests ... UAlbany has reached the eight-win plateau for the fourth time as a NCAA Division I FCS program ... UAlbany is making its first NCAA appearance in football since 1977 ... the Great Danes placed eleven players on the 2011 All-Northeast Conference squad ... DE Eddie Delaney is just the second UAlbany defensive lineman to be recognized on three occasions during a career ... Bob Ford was voted NEC Coach of the Year for the fourth time.

University of Albany Sinks Navy in Home Opener, 69-62; Four Great Danes Score in Double Figures - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y.- Junior Gerardo Suero scored 21 points, including the final 6-of-7 free throws to give UAlbany the victory over Navy, 69-62, on Friday, Nov. 25 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes had four players in double figures and shot 44 percent (22-50) from the floor and 35.3 percent (6-17) from beyond the arc.

Suero led all players with 21 points (5-11) and a staggering 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Junior Mike Black tallied 16 points and eight assists followed by Logan Aronhalt (18 points), and Luke Devlin (12 points) also scoring in double figures.

A game that looked like it would have finished up lopsided when UAlbany (3-3) was up by as much as 20 points with 9:39 left to play against Navy (2-4) ended up being a different story to come in the final minutes of the game.

"Being down 20 is nothing, I knew they had fight left in them", said UAlbany head coach Will Brown about the second-half scare. "What happened in both halves is our turnovers came in the wrong times. In the first half our turnovers led to points in for them so they made a run. In the last eight to ten minutes they made a run after turnovers again, but in the end a win is a win."

With 9:39 left to play, Suero knocked in a 15-footer to put the Great Danes up 20. The Midshipmen would go on a 19-4 run to cut the deficit, 63-58, with 1:22 left to play in the game. The spark was led by senior guard Jordan Sugar's seven points in the early run. UAlbany would respond back as Suero finished the game going 6-of-6 from the free throw line and Devlin going 1-of-2 to put the game out of reach, 69-62.

The Great Danes would begin the game with an early lead, 14-7, with 13:40 left to play. Sophomore Devlin looked to have his confidence back ending the half going 4-of-5 from the field and 1-of-1 from beyond the arc. After two lead changes and ties, UAlbany finished out the half with a six point lead, 32-26.

UAlbany looks to continue its home slate on Sunday, Nov. 27 against Fairleigh Dickinson at SEFCU Arena at 4:00 p.m.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Navy met for the first time on the hardwood ... the Great Danes have won eight of 13 home openers as a Division I program ... Gerardo Suero has scored 20-plus points three times this season ... UAlbany made 10 or more 3-point field goals for the 48th time at the Division I level ... Blake Metcalf grabbed double-figure rebounds for the sixth time as a collegian ... UAlbany is 16-28 all-time against current Patriot League members ... Luke Devlin recorded season-highs in points (12) and rebounds (8) ... Tanner Gibson, a freshman guard, made his first appearance of the year and played 10 minutes off the bench ... Peter Hooley, a freshman from South Australia, is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a stress fracture (foot).

University of Albany FCS Football's Eddie Delaney Among Eleven on All-NEC Football Team; Bob Ford Voted Top Coach - UAlbany Sports 2011

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Eddie Delaney leads a group of eleven players who were chosen to the 2011 All-Northeast Conference Football Team, as announced on Wednesday, Nov. 23 by the conference office. UAlbany's Bob Ford was named NEC Coach of the Year for the fourth time.

Delaney, a senior defensive end from Holtsville, N.Y., makes his third appearance on the all-conference squad and was named to the first team. He previously earned second-team honors twice. Delaney, who plays without a left hand and wears an insulin pump to control diabetes, made 54 tackles and led the team in hits for a loss with 11.5. He established the program's FCS single-season record with 8.5 sacks.

Along with Delaney, UAlbany had five players on the first team. Dan Di Lella, a senior quarterback from Neshanic Station, N.J., shattered the school standard with 24 touchdown passes, breaking a mark that had stood for 14 years. He is 12th nationally with a 151.9 passing efficiency and has connected on 172 of 284 attempts for 2,325 yards, the second-best figure in UAlbany annals. Jon Morgan, a junior inside linebacker from Copiague, N.Y., led the Great Danes with 97 tackles and had 2.5 sacks and three pass break-ups. Morgan has made double-figure stops in five games this season. Kadeem Williams, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound sophomore, started all 11 games at offensive tackle. He blocked for a unit that is 16th in scoring (34.1 ppg) and 21st in total offense (421.5 ypg) among the FCS leaders. Paul Layton, a sophomore from Burnt Hills, N.Y., is sixth among the nation's punting leaders with a 43.0 average. He has booted 15 kicks of 50 or more yards this season.

Kyle Jordan became the second UAlbany player to be voted NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year. A redshirt freshman outside linebacker from Bernardsville, N.J., Jordan is third on the team in tackles with 59, the most by a first-year player since Colin Disch in 2004. He added 9.5 stops for a loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles. He had a career-high nine tackles against Maine and Bryant.

The Great Danes put six players on the All-NEC second team. Herb Glass, a senior placekicker, is on the all-league unit for a second time. He owns the seventh-best single-season scoring total with 80 points, having made 11 of 21 field goals and all 47 point-after attempts. Glass is the program's career leader in field goals (37) and PATS (133), and ranks third on the all-time scoring chart with 244 points.

Andrew Smith became the ninth Great Dane to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season from his tailback position. He led the team in rushing (95.6 ypg) and all-purpose yards (126.7 ypg), plus is second in scoring with 10 touchdowns. The junior had six 100-yard rushing effort and also threw three scoring passes. Ryan Kirchner, a junior wide receiver, is UAlbany's leading receiver with 44 catches for 472 yards and nine TDs. Kirchner is fourth on the program's career receptions list with 110. Zach Gallo, a two-time NEC defensive player of the week this season, totaled 58 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries as a defensive tackle. Senior safety Jake Ciccarello accounted for 53 tackles and two forced fumbles. He has 148 tackles as a collegian. Cornerback Leon Saddler made 44 stops with two interceptions and two pass break-ups.

UAlbany's Ford was honored by the conference for the fourth time and previously won the top coaching award in 2002, 2007 and 2008. His squad was picked fourth in the league's preseason poll but went on to win a share of the program's fifth Northeast Conference championship. UAlbany will make its first Division I FCS playoff appearance and will play in an NCAA postseason game for the first time since 1977. Ford, who started the program at the club level, is the Division I FCS active leader with 255 career victories.

Paw Prints: UAlbany placed eleven players on the All-Northeast Conference team, the highest total since 2008 ... the Great Danes have had 10 or more players voted to the all-conference squad eight times since joining the league in 1999 ... DE Eddie Delaney joins DT Michael Dungey (2005-07) as the lone defensive lineman to earn All-NEC honors three times ... OLB Kyle Jordan is just the second Great Dane to be recognized as NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year ... Colin Disch, an inside linebacker, was named in 2004 ... UAlbany meets Stony Brook, the Big South Conference champion, in an NCAA FCS first-round game on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2:00 p.m. ... Shawn Kenney and former Ohio State defensive back Rob Harley will handle the broadcast for ESPN3.

University of Albany Downs Monmouth, 85-49, in NIT Season Tip-Off; Jayson Guerrier Has 28 Off Bench - UAlbany Sports 2011

Fairfax, Va. - Jayson Guerrier had 28 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in leading UAlbany to an 85-49 victory over Monmouth in the Dick Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off's third round on Monday, Nov. 21 at George Mason University's Patriot Center.

Monmouth (0-4) trailed by 13 at halftime, but closed the gap to 39-31 early in the final period. Army transfer Jesse Steele hit a layup after Ed Waite's steal and Dion Nesmith drilled a three-pointer. UAlbany (2-2) responded with a 13-2 run to regain control. Mike Black, who had nine points and nine assists, connected on a fastbreak layup. The junior guard then set up Guerrier for a conventional three-point play when he was fouled on a made basket. Guerrier sank two free threw after collecting an offensive rebound for a 52-33 cushion.

The Great Danes, who recorded their second-largest win as a Division I program, pushed the lead to 69-39 when Jacob Iati and Black sank back-to-back three-point shots. Guerrier, who made 9-of-10 from the field in 28 minutes of play, delivered his fifth 3-pointer with 6:09 remaining.

"Jayson (Guerrier) can really shoot," said UAlbany coach Will Brown about a player who transferred from Alabama Southern Community College. "He can put pressure on the defense, but it has just taken him awhile to get adjusted. Ralph Watts was also terrific off the bench and he is valuable to us because he can play four positions. If we get contributions from our bench like this, we will be fine."

In the first half, UAlbany reversed an 8-5 deficit with 11 unanswered. Guerrier canned a three-point field goal to put his team in front. Watts, a 6'5" sophomore then hit consecutive long-range jumpers, including the second off a skip pass from Black. Watts had 10 of his career-high 12 points in the period.

Still leading 21-17 later in the half, UAlbany tallied nine of the game's next 11 points. Guerrier, a 6-foot-4 junior, made another 3-pointer after blocking a shot on the previous defensive possession. Gerardo Suero, the third UAlbany players in double figures with 16 points, sank a pair of free throws and Guerrier converted in the lane for a 30-19 advantage with 3:58 left before the break.

The margin swelled to 16 points after Black made a layup following a Monmouth turnover and Watts and Guerrier each split a pair of foul shots. Mike Myers Keitt, a 6-foot-7 senior, connected in the lane and Nesmith, a Northeastern transfer, made a three-pointer, before Luke Devlin scored off a tip-in just before the buzzer for a 38-25 halftime cushion.

"We have a real deep bench now and we showed that today," offered Watts, who made three 3-pointers in the first half. "It felt good that both Jayson and I got more minutes and that boosted our confidence."

The Great Danes, who shot 52 percent from the floor, including 13-of-31 from beyond the arc, meet George Mason in NIT play on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Patriots advanced to the NCAA Tournament's third round last year.

"Whenever I come off the bench I try to provide energy," said Guerrier, an honorable mention All-American on the junior college level last season. "I got looks and it went down for me. I tried to rebound hard as well."

Paw Prints: UAlbany has split its opening four games for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign ... the Great Danes' 36-point win was the second-largest at the Division I level ... UAlbany defeated Binghamton, 76-37, last year to set the standard ... the Great Danes defeated Monmouth for the first time after having lost twice in UA's first two seasons as a Division I program ... Monmouth is coached by King Rice, a Binghamton, N.Y. native and former North Carolina point guard under Dean Smith.

University of Albany's Zach Gallo Named Northeast Conference FCS Football Defensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2011

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Zach Gallo has been selected Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Nov. 21 by the conference office. He was honored for his performance in last Saturday's 31-21 victory over Sacred Heart which wrapped up a share of the NEC championship.

Gallo, a senior defensive tackle from Sayville, N.Y., set up the go-ahead score in the second half with his first career interception. He added five tackles and two pass break-ups to go along with his pivotal play. Gallo picked off a pass intended for SHU running back Sean Bell to give the Great Danes possession at the Pioneers' 23-yard line. QB Dan Di Lella later threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Ryan Kirchner for a 21-14 lead. Earlier in the day, Gallo deflected a third-and-seven pass intended for Sacred Heart tight end Rich Rossi. With UAlbany holding a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, Gallo stuffed SHU quarterback Tim Little for no gain on a third-and-one play. On the very next defensive series, he broke up a first-down pass attempt that was intended for receiver Rock Tate.

Gallo, who was one of 17 seniors making their final home appearance, is fourth on the team in tackles (58), plus has 3.5 hits for a loss and 2.0 sacks. He has 134 career tackles in 45 games played as a collegian.

Paw Prints: UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-1) earned a share of its fifth Northeast Conference championship ... the Great Danes secured their first NCAA Division I FCS playoff berth ... UAlbany's lone NCAA appearance came as a Division III program in 1977 ... the Great Danes will be playing in their seventh postseason game, including a 2008 Gridiron Classic win over Jacksonville ... the Great Danes, who advanced to the postseason with victories in eight of their last nine games, have reached the eight-win mark for the fourth time at the FCS level ... QB Dan Di Lella threw four touchdown passes, including two in each half, against Sacred Heart ... Di Lella established the program's single-season record with 24 TD passes, breaking Joe Savino's 1997 record of 22 ... WR Ryan Kirchner, who set the program's FCS standard with three touchdown receptions vs. Sacred Heart, earned a College Football Performance Award in the honorable mention category ... TB Andrew Smith accounted for a season-high 215 all-purpose yards last week, the second-highest figure of his career ... Smith, who ran for 135 yards on 23 carries, became the eighth UA player to register 1,000 rushing yards in a season (1,052) ... the junior has a streak of nine straight games with 100-plus all-purpose yards and has moved to fourth in career yards with 3,218 ... DE Eddie Delaney had two second-half sacks and made six tackles against Sacred Heart ... the senior has eclipsed the program's FCS single-season record with 8.5 sacks.

University of Albany's Gerardo Suero Selected America East Conference Basketball Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2011

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Gerardo Suero has been chosen America East Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball, as announced on Monday, Nov. 21 by the conference office.

Suero, a 6-foot-4 junior, averaged 30.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in two games. He totaled 29 points and nine rebounds as UAlbany held off Brown for a 77-68 victory in the NIT Season Tip-Off's first round on Nov. 14. Suero accounted for 31 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 98-74 loss to No. 5 Syracuse in NIT's second round the following night. He netted the most points by a Great Dane since Jason Siggers had 34 against Vermont on Jan. 13, 2007 and posted the highest total by a Syracuse opponent at the Carrier Dome in three years.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Suero's three-game total of 77 points is the most by a UAlbany player since All-America guard Jamar Wilson had 79 from Feb. 11-20, 2006. He is averaging 25.7 per game.

Paw Prints: UAlbany is playing in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off's third and fourth rounds at George Mason University's Patriot Center ... the Great Danes meet Monmouth on Monday, Nov. 21 at 5:00 p.m. and the host school on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

University of Albany Field Hockey's Corrine McConville Voted to Longstreth/NFHCA All-America Second Team - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany's Corrine McConville, coming off her stellar sophomore season, earned a spot on the 2011 Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I All-America Second Team. The first, second and third All-American teams were announced Monday afternoon by NFHCA Executive Director Jennifer Goodrich.

McConville served as an offensive leader for the Great Danes in the 2011 season as she was second in goals scored (12) and tied for fourth in assists (4). In the regular-season finale against New Hampshire, she tallied the game winner in the 62nd minute as UAlbany took a 3-2 victory. McConville had a pair of two-goal performances on the season against Yale and Stanford.

In 20 games played this season, McConville racked up 76 shots to lead the league with a 3.80 shots per game average. She made a season-best seven shots in games against Siena and Yale. The midfielder ranked among the conference's top-10 in points (28), points per game (1.40) and goals per game average (0.60).

Paw Prints: McConville becomes the third field hockey player at UAlbany to garner All-America recognition ... current UAlbany assistant coach and former player Michelle Simpson received the award twice, a second-team selection in 2007 and 2008... 40 UAlbany student-athletes have been honored as All-Americans at the Division I level.

Bus to NCAA 1st Round - UAlbany FCS Football @ Stony Brook

Event title: Fan Bus to Football NCAA
Event date: November 26, 2011 8:30 AM
Event end date: November 26, 2011 9:00 PM
Location: Bus departs from the Alumni House

Description:

Come on UAlbany – Show our UA Spirit and cheer on the football team in their first trip to the NCAAs! Hop on the fan bus to be a part of history and watch Coach Ford take his first Division I team to compete in the NCAA against Stony Brook on Sat. Nov. 26. Limited tickets available! Register by Wed. Nov. 23 by 2 pm to reserve your spot.

Includes round trip bus transportation from the Alumni House, game ticket and continental breakfast. Bus will leave the Alumni House at 8:30 am and return after the end of the 2 pm game.

Only $20 for roundtrip bus ride, ticket, & continental breakfast

https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/UAB/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=116993

University of Albany FCS Football Travels to Stony Brook for NCAA FCS First-Round Matchup on Saturday, Nov. 26 - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head coach Bob Ford and his Great Dane football program will make their first NCAA appearance in 34 years when UAlbany travels to Stony Brook for a first-round matchup on Saturday, Nov. 26. Kickoff will be announced at a later time. The NCAA Division I FCS bracket, a field of 20 teams comprised of 10 conference champions and 10 at-large squads, was announced today on ESPNU.

UAlbany (8-3) captured its fifth Northeast Conference championship following a 31-21 victory over Sacred Heart on Nov. 19. The Great Danes shared the conference crown with Duquesne, but were awarded the league's automatic berth after winning the head-to-head matchup in October. UAlbany upgraded to the NCAA FCS level at the beginning of the 1999 season. The Great Danes last appeared in the NCAAs as a Division III program in 1977.

Stony Brook (8-3) won the Big South Conference title after defeating Liberty, 41-31, in its final regular-season game. The Seawolves, who have won eight in a row, are coached by former UAlbany captain Chuck Priore. Stony Brook, ranked No. 22 nationally in the Sports Network poll, features the top scoring offense in the nation at 39.6 points per game. Miguel Maysonet and Brock Jackolski have each gained more than 1,000 yards for a ground attack that is third nationally. Maysonet, who scored the go-ahead touchdown against Liberty, has 1,485 yards and 15 TDs. Jackolski has run for 1,229 yards and 13 scores.

The Great Danes, who have reached the win column in eight of their last nine contests, have been balanced on offense throughout the season. Dan Di Lella, a senior quarterback, has thrown for 2,325 yards and 24 touchdowns. Andrew Smith is the ninth UAlbany running back to topple the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season with 1,052 and nine TDs. Jon Morgan, an inside linebacker, is the leading tackler with 97, while defensive end Eddie Delaney has set the program's FCS record with 8.5 sacks.

Quotes Following Sunday's NCAA Division I Football Selection Show
UAlbany coach Bob Ford - (on place in bracket) "We are probably where we should be, we are an outside group coming in. I think we are fortunate playing a team we are somewhat familiar with. Head coach Chuck Priore was one of our captains and coached for a period of time here. I have got a lot of respect for him and we are ready for the challenge."

(on whether UAlbany can win) "Yes, I think anytime you go into any football game, unless you are completely depleted with injuries, you have a fighting chance. Now we are going to have to do a lot of things very, very well, which we have done this year and we will see what happens."

Defensive end Eddie Delaney (on NCAA berth) "It means a lot because we helped lead us to this position and all this hard work has finally paid off. When you are one of the main guys who is making a big impact and it results in the NCAA tournament, it means a lot."

Tailback Andrew Smith (on NCAA appearance) "Words can't describe it. All this blood, sweat, tears, we have been through so much tragedy with people losing family members and the hard work that has gone through all encompasses this. This is what we wanted, it was attainable, and the reason why I came here, overall not a better feeling."

Defensive tackle Zach Gallo (on winning game) "With this team I feel that we are on a roll and we will try to keep going with it. Stony Brook was our rival before and we will try to renew this rivalry. We will go in there and give it all we got to get that ‘W'.

(role of defensive line) "With Stony Brook's great running backs, our defensive line, led with senior leadership, will have a big role in this game to contain them as best we can to give our team a chance to win. Our goal is to shut down the run game, and if we can do that we can win."

Paw Prints: ESPN3 will televise the UAlbany-Stony Brook first-round NCAA game nationally ... UAlbany is making its seventh postseason appearance, but first since a 2008 Gridiron Classic win over Pioneer Football Conference champion Jacksonville ... since the Great Danes moved to the Division I FCS level, the program has played in two other postseason contests ... UAlbany defeated Duquesne in the 2002 ECAC Classic and lost to Dayton in the 2007 Gridiron Classic.

Seniors Lead University of Albany to Sixth America East Volleyball Championship - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - America East Conference Setter of the Year Brooke Stanley was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, as she led UAlbany to its sixth America East Conference Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 sweep of Stony Brook on Saturday evening at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes defeated the Seawolves with set scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-17 to take home their second straight championship title and sixth in the last eight years.

The two teams battled through the first set, which was tied three times in the early going, including 7-7 on a kill by All-Tournament selection Casey Wright. Wright's kill sparked the Great Danes to then build up an 11-8 advantage on a kill by Traci Vandegrift. However, Stony Brook climbed back to tie the set at13-13 on a kill by America East Player of the Year Alicia Nelson. The teams exchanged points before a kill by Samantha Brostrom and a block by Stanley and Gabby Whitworth put the Great Danes up, 19-16, and prompted the Seawolves to take a timeout. Vandegrift and Whitworth teamed up to block an attack by Evann Slaughter, before UAlbany got to set point on a kill by Dunja Prgomet. Wright finished off the set with a kill down the middle to give the Great Danes a 1-0 advantage.

The second set started off much like the first, with the teams tying up the score nine times before UAlbany took the lead for good on a kill by Wright that put the Great Danes on top, 15-14. UAlbany continued to build on its lead, getting a kill by Vandegrift and a service ace by Brostrom to pull ahead, 21-17. The teams again exchanged points down the stretch before Wright gave UAlbany set point on a kill from an assist from Stanley. Kaitlin Costello extended the set a point with a kill for Stony Brook, but Wright smashed the winner for the second straight set to give UAlbany a 2-0 match lead.

UAlbany came out firing after the break, as Stanley served for the first six points of the set. After a ball handling error gave the ball to Stony Brook, Laura Hathaway served for three straight points to pull the Seawolves to within 6-4. Stony Brook took a timeout after a huge solo block by Wright that pushed UAlbany's lead to 11-7, and the Seawolves were able to regroup and take advantage of some Great Dane miscues to pull back within 11-10. UAlbany would not fold, however, and climbed to a 21-16 lead on back-to-back kills by Wright and Prgomet. Abbey Wexel, one of four seniors on the UAlbany squad, served for four straight points, as the Great Danes got to set point on a kill by Prgomet. Stony Brook's Greta Strenger smacked a kill to try to keep the Seawolves in the match, but Wright finished off the third consecutive set for the Great Danes to give the Great Danes the victory.

Wright recorded a team-high 14 kills, hitting .542 for the match, and also finished with three total blocks. Prgomet, who joined Wright and Stanley on the all-tournament team, added 12 kills and six blocks for the Great Danes on .440 hitting. Stanley totaled a match-high 39 assists, while libero Laurie Gonzalez totaled 14 digs. Stanley quarterbacked the team to a .393 hitting percentage, while the Great Danes out-blocked the Seawolves, 8-0.

"We put pressure on ourselves every day in practice," said UAlbany head Coach MJ Engstrom, who was named the league's coach of the year for the second time. "This is all part of that. We get better and better every day at practice, and this is the result. [Stony Brook] played a great match. Fortunately, we played a little bit better."

Nelson led all players with 16 kills and also added six digs. Strenger added 12 kills for Stony Brook, while setter Kelsey Sullivan finished with 36 assists and nine digs. Libero Laura Hathaway totaled a match-high 17 digs for the Seawolves. Stony Brook finishes the 2011 season with a 15-13 record overall.

UAlbany (21-8) has reached the 20-win plateau for the fifth straight season and fourth under head coach MJ Engstrom. The Great Danes will find out their destination in the NCAA Tournament via the America East's automatic bid on Sunday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. The NCAA Selection Show will be broadcast live on ESPNU and NCAA.com.

University of Albany FCS Football Earns Share of Northeast Conference Title; Secures First NCAA FCS Playoff Berth - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Dan Di Lella threw four touchdown passes, including two in each half, in leading UAlbany to a 31-21 victory over Sacred Heart in the season's final regular-season game on Saturday, Nov. 19 at University Field. The Great Danes earned a share of the Northeast Conference championship and their first trip to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs with the league's automatic berth.

"It's a tremendous group of seniors," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team shared the conference crown with Duquesne but advanced to the NCAAs by winning the head-to-head matchup in October. "The defensive line made some huge plays in the second half and they are a senior group. There is great satisfaction in coaching when you watch a team and individuals made a progression."

UAlbany (8-3, NEC 7-1) broke a 14-14 halftime tie by scoring on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. Defensive tackle Zach Gallo intercepted a short pass meant for running back Sean Bell at the Pioneers' 23-yard line. Di Lella later tossed a 14-yard scoring pass to Ryan Kirchner, who slid on one knee in the left end zone to make the catch. The Great Danes followed with a 10-play drive that resulted in Herb Glass' 31-yard field goal and a 24-14 advantage. Andrew Smith's 38-yard scamper moved his team deep into SHU territory. The junior tailback rushed for 135 yards on 23 carries.

Sacred Heart (5-6, NEC 3-5) responded with a seven-play, 77-yard march. A pass interference penalty moved the ball to Albany 31. Tim Little, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, then delivered a 31-yard strike to Sean Kessler, who gathered the pass on the right sideline between defenders and advanced to the end zone.

After defensive end Eddie Delaney camp up with a sack, UAlbany took possession at midfield and drove nine plays to paydirt for a 31-21 margin. Di Lella ran an option play for a first down at the SHU 24, before Smith broke free for 11 yards. Di Lella, who completed 19 of 29 passes for 165 yards, would find Kirchner on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 9:29 to play.

The late stages of the game did not come without some anxious moments. The teams combined for a missed goal and three turnovers on four straight possessions. The biggest play came when Little completed a 38-yard pass to Rickey Moore Jr., but UAlbany safety Jake Ciccarello stripped the ball and cornerback Randall Exantus made the recovery in his own red zone with 2:21 remaining.

"This is a phenomenal feeling," said Gallo, whose squad won the program's fifth NEC crown, but will make its first-ever NCAA FCS postseason appearance. "I am happy for Coach (Bob) Ford. He deserves to be in the playoffs and I am personally very proud to send him there."

The Pioneers, who were in the conference race until a couple of close losses the last two weeks, took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter when Little hooked up with tight end Rich Rossi on a 10-yard touchdown throw. Sacred Heart had opened the scoring on its first series of the game as holder Jo Jo Jamiel scored on a three-yard run off a field goal fake. Little finished 27-of-44 through the air for 265 yards.

The Great Danes, who have won eight of their last nine contests, answered with a touchdown in both situations. Di Lella connected with fullback Justin Petersen on third-and-goal from the three-yard line in the first quarter. The combination of Di Lella and Kirchner worked for the first of three times on the day on a 9-yard TD pass with 3:55 left before the intermission. Di Lella kept the drive alive with a fourth-down completion to Smith.

"This means more than words," offered Di Lella, who established the program's single-season record with 24 touchdown passes. "At the start of the year, I thought I would be on the bench, but things worked out for me. I am proud of what we did today."

Paw Prints: UAlbany earned one of 10 conference automatic berths in the NCAA Division I FCS field ... the tournament bracket will be announced on ESPNU at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20 ... the Great Danes have won or shared NEC championships in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2011 ... UAlbany has reached the eight-win mark for the fourth time as a Division I FCS program ... the Great Danes own seven wins in conference play for just the second time ... Dan Di Lella's 24 touchdown passes eclipses the old mark of 22 set by Joe Savino in 1997 ... Eddie Delaney established the program's FCS single-season record with 8.5 sacks.... Andrew Smith became the ninth Great Dane to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season (1,052).

University of Albany Women's Cross Country Defends ECAC Championship; Men's Place Second at IC4A Meet - UAlbany Sports 2011

Bronx, N.Y.- University at Albany cross country's sophomore Kathryn Fanning and senior Chris Burke led their squads to a first and second place finish in the ECAC and IC4A Championships on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Van CortlandtPark in Bronx, N.Y. The Great Danes' women's cross country won the ECAC university division title for the second year in a row. Princeton men's cross country finished ahead of UAlbany's squad to take the IC4A championship division title.

The first four harriers for the UAlbany women's squad finished in the top-30 of 215 participants. After Fanning crossed the tape in first with a time of 18:06, junior Emily Finnegan placed 13th (18:41) followed by junior Melissa Del Rosario in 15th (18:43) and Miranda McConnell in 28th (19:08) to round out the top 30.

As for UAlbany's men's cross country team, senior Chris Burke finished first for the Great Danes and fourth overall (24:57). After Burke crossed the finish line, junior Ethan Clary came in with a time of 25:22 (10th) followed by teammates Paul Lagno (29th, 25:45) and Chris Buchanan (40th, 25:55) to round out the top 40 harriers in a field of 154.

This concludes both of UAlbany's men's and women's cross country seasons. Most of the squads runners will compete in both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field to prepare for next season.

-agate-

IC4A Championship Team Standings (Championship Division)
1. Princeton 50; 2. UAlbany 121; 3. La Salle 145; 4. Syracuse 168; T5. Duquesne 190; T5. Saint Joseph's 190; 7. Georgetown 192; 8. Liberty 219; 9. Massachusetts 221; 10. Central Connecticut State 223; 11. Connecticut 233; 12. Marist 241; 13. Boston College 273; 14. Iona 360; 15. Columbia 367; 16. George Mason 378; 17. Rider 380

Individual Champion: Joe Stilin, Princeton, 24:47.

UAlbany Finishers: 4. Chris Burke 24:47; 10. Ethan Clary 25:22; 29. Paul Lagno 25:45; 38. Alex Leuchanka 25:53; 40. Chris Buchanan 25:55; 81. Richard Sniffen 26:27; 112. Tyler Fogarty 27:12; 121. Craig Weiss 27:30; 122. Patrick Murphy 27:32; 128. Brandon Camenzuli 27:28; 143. John Delallo 28:22;.

ECAC Championship Team Standings (University Division)
1. UAlbany 109; 2. Marist 119; 3. Towson 159; 4. Sacred Heart 176; 5. Delaware 195; 6. Monmouth 197; 7. Rider 205; 8. Fordham 212; 9. Bucknell 228; 10. George Mason 231; 11. Binghamton 237; 12. Fairfield 242; 13. Central Connecticut State 247; 14. St. John's 346; 15. Temple 421; 16. Holy Cross 459; 17. Seton Hall 470; 18. Longwood 485; 19. Hofstra 498; 20. Hampton 499; 21. NJIT 548; 22. Siena 641.

Individual Champion: Kathryn Fanning, UAlbany, 18:06

UAlbany Finishers: 1. Kathryn Fanning 18:08; 13. Emily Finnegan 18:41; 15. Melissa Del Rosario 18:43; 28. Miranda McConnell 19:08; 52. Ada Lauterbach 19:24; 89. Brianne Bellon 19:52; 134. Brianna Service 20:28; 200. Rachel Wysocki 22:29; 206. Amanda Elsenson 22:52.

University of Albany Advances to America East Volleyball Championship Match with Sweep of UMBC - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - America East Conference Setter of the Year Brooke Stanley finished with a double-double of 34 assists and 15 digs to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 win over UMBC in an America East Tournament semifinal match on Friday evening at University Gymnasium. With the win, the Great Danes advance to their sixth tournament championship match, taking on Stony Brook on Saturday evening.

The two teams played a back-and-fourth first set that was tied nine times in the early going before Traci Vandegrift recorded a kill that gave UAlbany a 14-13 lead and put the Great Danes on top for good. Vandegrift combined with Casey Wright for two block assists that sandwiched a UMBC attack error and gave UAlbany a 17-13 advantage. Back-to-back kills by Stanley and Samantha Brostrom put UAlbany ahead, 22-15, before UMBC attempted to rally. America East rookie of the year Dalton Tolliver recorded three straight kills, pulling the Retrievers to within 22-19, prompting UAlbany to take a timeout. UAlbany got to set point on a bad set by UMBC, but Emily Vandegrift recorded a kill to keep the set going. Traci Vandegrift connected on an assist from Stanley to end the set and give UAlbany a 1-0 match lead.

The second set started much like the first, with neither team able to build a large advantage. After Brostom gave UAlbany a 16-15 lead with a kill, UMBC scored the next six points, taking a 21-16 advantage on a kill by setter Alexandria Spaay. UAlbany rallied back, and down 24-21, got a kill from Wright that spurred UMBC to take a timeout. With the Retrievers at set point, Traci Vandegrift took over UAlbany's service game, and served UAlbany to the win. Wright and Stanley teamed up for a block on a UMBC attack, while Wright posted a solo block followed by a monster kkill to tie the set at 24-24. A UMBC attack error gave UAlbany set point, and Wright smashed a kill down the middle to give the Great Danes a 2-0 advantage.

UAlbany came out firing in the final set, getting ahead 15-9 on a service ace by Gabby Whitworth. Emily Vandegrift recorded a kill on the next serve and pulled the Retrievers to within 16-13, taking advantage of UAlbany attack errors. Ahead, 21-17 on a Dunja Prgomet kill, Lindsey McCloskey served for two points, getting a huge block from Whitworth and Traci Vandegrift. The Retrievers used consecutive UAlbany attack errors to close in to 23-20, but a kill by Traci Vandegrift gave the Great Danes match point. Prgomet took an assist from McCloskey and knocked a kill down the line for the win.

Tolliver led UMBC with 13 kills and four total blocks, while Emily Vandegrift added nine kills and nine digs for the Retrievers. Spaay finished with a double-double of 30 assists and 12 digs, while Ali Loynachan totaled a team-high 17 digs. UMBC wraps up the season with an overall record of 16-12.

Brostrom led UAlbany with 13 kills, while Prgomet totaled nine kills and 14 digs. America East defensive specialist of the year Laurie Gonzalez recorded a match-high 20 digs. The Great Danes out-blocked the Retrievers, 7-5.5.

UAlbany (20-8) advances to the America East Championship, facing Stony Brook at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The Seawolves earned their spot in the finals with a 3-1 victory over New Hampshire earlier on Friday. UAlbany swept Stony Brook, 3-0, in two regular-season matches this year.

-agate-

UAlbany (20-8) def. UMBC (16-12), 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-20)

University of Albany's Laurie Gonzalez Earns Fourth Straight America East Volleyball Defensive Specialist of the Year Award - UAlbany Sports 2011

Cambridge, Mass. - Senior libero Laurie Gonzalez was named the America East Conference Volleyball Defensive Specialist of the Year for the fourth straight season, as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. Senior setter Brooke Stanley earned the third America East setter of the year award of her career, while classmate Casey Wright made her second appearance on the all-conference first team. Freshman Samantha Brostrom was also honored, earning all-rookie team accolades, and head coach MJ Engstrom earned her second coach of the year award.

Gonzalez became the first player in America East history to earn the defensive specialist of the year title for four consecutive years. A native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Gonzalez became UAlbany's all-time digs leader this season, amassing 1,998 over four seasons. As a senior, she averages a league-best 5.30 digs per set, accumulating 488 in 27 regular-season matches. She is also second on the squad with 26 service aces this season.

Stanley, who returned to the court this season after missing 2010 with an injury, came back for the Great Danes in top form, earning her third setter of the year award. Stanley, who earned America East setter of the week honors five times this season, averaged a league-best 10.88 assists per set and also paced UAlbany with a team-high 32 service aces. Stanley, who currently owns three of the top ten single-season assist totals, will add another to the list after this season, as she has totaled 1,001 as a senior. She is also second on UAlbany's all-time assists chart with 4,747.

Wright makes her second straight appearance on the all-conference first team, after posting the league's top hitting percentage for the third consecutive season. Wright, who averages a team-high 3.35 kills per set, is hitting .391 on the season, and also averages a team-best 0.77 blocks per set. Brostom, an outside hitter, has made her presence known for the Great Danes as a rookie both offensively and defensively. The native of Ellicott City, Md. is second on the team with 2.74 kills per set and also averages 2.10 digs per set. She has posted 14 service aces and totaled 14 blocks, starting 22 of 24 matches played as a freshman.

Engstrom, in her third season as head coach of the Great Danes, earns her second coach of the year award. Engstrom, who previously served as an assistant coach for UAlbany, guided the Great Danes to their fourth straight America East regular-season title this season, as the team led the conference in four statistical categories. UAlbany looks to reach their fifth consecutive season with 20 or more wins, after going 19-8 overall and 11-1 in league play.

2011 America East Volleyball All-Conference Teams

First Team: Laurie Gonzalez, L, UAlbany; Brooke Stanley, S, UAlbany; Casey Wright, MB, UAlbany; Kami Nethersole, OH, Hartford; Amy Keding, OH, New Hampshire; Lauren Fletcher, MB, Providence; Alicia Nelson, OH, Stony Brook.

Second Team: Xiomara Ortiz, L, Binghamton; Alex Roland, MB, Binghamton; Dalton Tolliver, MB, UMBC; Jansan Falcusan, S, New Hampshire; Lauren Laquerre, OH, New Hampshire; Morgan Thatcher, RS, New Hampshire; Evann Slaughter, MB, Stony Brook.

All-Rookie: Samantha Brostrom, UAlbany; Kristin Hovie, Binghamton; Sareeta Nethersole, Hartford; Jackie Tamburri, Hartford; Hannah Schmidt, UMBC; Dalton Tolliver, UMBC; Laura Hathaway, Stony Brook.

Player of the Year: Alicia Nelson, Stony Brook

Setter of the Year: Brooke Stanley, UAlbany

Defensive Specialist of the Year: Laurie Gonzalez, UAlbany

Rookie of the Year: Dalton Tolliver, UMBC

Coach of the Year: MJ Engstrom, UAlbany

Five University of Albany Great Danes Garner 2011 Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Region Field Hockey Honors - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Sophomore midfielder Corrine McConville earned her first Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I First Team All-Northeast Region award, while four other University at Albany players were named to the second team. The all-region first and second teams were announced by NFHCA Executive Director Jennifer Goodrich on Thursday, Nov. 17. Katharina Helling, Christina Patrick, Taylor Luke and Kristi Troch were all second-team honorees.

McConville makes her second appearance on the All-Northeast team after a second team nod last season. Aiding the 2011 team with her second-best point total of 28 (12 G, 3 A), McConville is now eligible for NFHCA All-America consideration which is set to be announced Monday, Nov. 21.

Helling, playing at defensive midfield in her first season of collegiate competition, was named to the second team after posting a 15 point season (5 G, 5 A) to rank fourth on the team. She also was a key asset on the UAlbany defense that allowed a league-leading 1.30 goals per game.

Patrick, Luke and Troch each make their second straight second team honors. Patrick led the Great Dane offense with 13 goals and six assists, which was tabbed fourth-best in America East Conference standings. Troch earned goalkeeper of the year accolades after topping the league in shutouts (5) and a 1.33 goals against average to anchor the UAlbany defense. Luke, starting in all 20 games this season at defense, tallied three defensive saves to help the Great Danes shutdown opponents and secure key victories.

UAlbany (13-7) finished the season ranked 14th on the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Coaches' Poll after making top-20 appearances for all 11 weeks of the 2011 season.

-agate-

Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Region
First Team
Kaela Barker Northeastern University
Maike de Jager Boston College
Whitney Frates University of New Hampshire
Stephanie Gardiner University of Maine
Kelly Hood Dartmouth College
Kyle Lyons University of New Hampshire
Corrine McConville University at Albany
Jacinda McLeod Boston University
Kate Murphy Boston University
Kelly Newton University of Maine
Crystal Poland Northeastern University
Hayley Rausch University of New Hampshire
Nicole Schuster Boston College
Courtney Tavener Boston College
Nicole van Oosterom Boston University
Aleisha Widdall University of Massachusetts

Second Team
Pam Aldridge Northeastern University
Megan Bozek University of New Hampshire
Carly Dickson Harvard University
Macey Gaumond Boston University
Katharina Helling University at Albany
Taylor Luke University at Albany
Carolyn Malloy Northeastern University
Lisa Masini Dartmouth College
Jocelyn Mitchell University of Maine
Giovanna Monaco Boston University
Christina Patrick University at Albany
Lizzie Priest Northeastern University
Carla Tamer Boston College
Kristi Troch University at Albany
Anna Wetherall Boston College
Kim Young University of Massachusetts

University of Albany Basketball Will Travel to Virginia for NIT Tip-Off's Third & Fourth Rounds on Nov. 21-22 - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. -- The National Invitation Tournament has announced that the University at Albany will play in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off's third and fourth rounds at George Mason University's Patriot Center on Nov. 21-22. The 10,000-seat arena is located in Fairfax, Virginia, nearly 20 miles outside of Washington, D.C.

The NIT's third and fourth rounds have a pre-determined schedule. UAlbany will meet Monmouth, of the Northeast Conference, on Monday at 5:00 p.m., before facing Colonial Athletic Association opponent George Mason on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

King Rice, the former North Carolina point guard under the legendary Dean Smith, is in his first season as Monmouth's head coach. Rice was previously an assistant at Vanderbilt, Providence, Illinois State and Oregon. The Hawks have opened the schedule with losses to three highly-regarded teams in Villanova, Virginia Tech and George Mason. Ed Waite, a 6'3" junior, leads the team in scoring (10.0 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 pg). Jesse Steele, who played in 18 games last year after transferring from Army, scores at a 7.3 clip. Northeastern transfer Dion Nesmith also contributes 7.3 points.

George Mason (2-1) has eight letterwinners, including two starters, returning from last year's 27-7 squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament's third round. The Patriots have made six NCAA appearances and won four CAA championships. Paul Hewitt, who guided Georgia Tech to five NCAAs and was the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year, is in his first season at the helm. Hewitt has a 258-190 career record. Ryan Pearson, a second-team All-CAA forward, averages 20.7 points. The 6-foot-6, 237-pound senior also collects 11.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore guards Vertrail Vaughns (15.0 ppg) and Sherrod Wright (14.0 ppg) score in double figures.

UAlbany (1-2) has started the season with a pair of losses to national top-10 programs sandwiched around a 77-68 victory over Brown in the NIT's first round. Gerardo Suero, a 6'4" junior, is off to a terrific start to as a Great Dane, averaging 25.7 points. He scored 31 against fifth-ranked Syracuse, the most points by an opponent at the Carrier Dome in three years. Logan Aronhalt and Mike Black earned all-conference recognition last season. Aronhalt, who recorded a double-double in the Brown win, contributes 17.3 points per game. Black adds 10.3 points and 4.0 assists. Luke Devlin, a 6'8" sophomore, was a member of 2011 America East Conference All-Rookie Team.

**********

Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off
Third and Fourth Rounds
(Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia)

Monday, Nov. 21
UAlbany vs. Monmouth, 5:00 p.m.
George Mason vs. Brown, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 22
Brown vs. Monmouth, 5:00 p.m.
UAlbany vs. George Mason, 7:30 p.m.

2011 UAlbany FCS Football Gameday vs Sacred Heart - 11/19/11

University of Albany Football: Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)


UAlbany FCS Football Homepage

UAlbany FCS Football Roster

UAlbany FCS Football Stats

UAlbany FCS Football Media Guide

UAlbany FCS Football Game Notes



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


NEXT GAME

Date: November 19, 2011
Time: 1pm
Opponent: Sacred Heart
Location: University of Albany – Albany, NY
Facility: University Field
Directions
Tickets

Distance:
From Albany - 0m
From Syracuse – 145m
From Boston – 170m
From NYC - 157m


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


2011 UAlbany FCS Football Schedule:

Sat, Sep 3 at Colgate L 34-37 --
Sat, Sep 17 Maine L 15-31 --
Sat, Sep 24 at Columbia W 44-21 --
Sat, Oct 1 at St. Francis (PA) W 41-20 --
Sat, Oct 8 Duquesne W 38-10 --
Sat, Oct 15 Robert Morris W 28-17 --
Sat, Oct 22 at Central Connecticut State W 63-35 --
Sat, Oct 29 at Wagner W 24-0 --
Sat, Nov 5 Bryant L 17-31 --
Sat, Nov 12 at Monmouth W 41-24 --
Sat, Nov 19 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm --


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Gameday Live Media Coverage:

FoxSports Radio - Great Dane Football
Dane Zone Webcasting

UAlbany Live Stats


Pregame Media Coverage:

Big Purple Fans - UAlbany Fan Board


Coach's Corner:




- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Sacred Heart: Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)


Football Homepage

Football Roster

Football Game Notes

Football Media Guide

Football Stats


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


2011 Schedule:

Sat, Sep 3 Marist L 7-20 --
Fri, Sep 16 Bryant L 6-26 --
Sat, Sep 24 Dartmouth W 24-21 --
Sat, Oct 1 at Central Connecticut State W 37-24 --
Sat, Oct 8 at Columbia W 34-25 --
Sat, Oct 15 St. Francis (PA) W 60-45 --
Sat, Oct 22 Monmouth L 17-31 --
Sat, Oct 29 at Robert Morris W 27-15 --
Sat, Nov 5 at Wagner L 21-27 --
Sat, Nov 12 Duquesne L 15-29 --
Sat, Nov 19 at Albany 1:00 pm --

University of Albany Men's Basketball Defeats Brown in NIT Season Tip-Off's First Round; Suero & Aronhalt Lead Way - UAlbany Sports 2011

Syracuse, N.Y. - Gerardo Suero had 29 points and Logan Aronhalt added 19 points and 13 rebounds as UAlbany held off Brown, 77-68, in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday, Nov. 14 at the Carrier Dome. UAlbany meets Syracuse, a 92-56 winner over Manhattan, in the second round on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN3.

The Great Danes built a 62-49 lead with 6:19 remaining after Aronhalt made a three-point field goal and Luke Devlin scored in the lane. Brown (1-1) came storming back behind the play of Matt Sullivan, a 6-foot-5 junior who had 19 of his 26 points after halftime.

The Bears sliced the deficit to 65-60 after Sullivan buried one of his five 3-pointers and made two free throws. UAlbany (1-1) was still ahead 71-66 three minutes later, but Suero converted a fastbreak opportunity and Mike Black canned a pair of foul shots to end the comeback bid.

"They got into a rhythm offensively and exposed our defense," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team was coming off a season-opening loss against 10th-ranked Pittsburgh. "Our defense got too comfortable and we were hurt by Mike Black being in foul trouble. We need to fine tune some things, but we achieved our goal of getting a win."

In the first half, the Great Danes used a string of 10 unanswered to take an early 16-4 lead. Luke Devlin nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing to ignite that stretch, while freshman Peter Hooley's steal and layup ended the outburst. The Great Danes made 10 of their first 16 field goal attempts to move out to a 28-14 margin, as Suero drilled a three-pointer. UAlbany shot 53.8 percent from the field en route to a 12-point halftime advantage.

The Bears, who made 12-of-29 from beyond the arc, worked their way back into the contest with long-range shooting. John Harris' three-pointer from the left corner chipped away at a double-figure lead, before Sean McGonagill made a 21-footer that closed the gap to 52-46 with 12:30 left. The Great Danes answered when Aronhalt hit a jumper and split two free throws. Ralph Watts scored with an offensive rebound to push the margin back to double digits.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," offered Suero, who made 9-of-12 from the field and 9-of-11 from the line. "Defensively, we need to talk more. But a win keeps you motivated to keep winning."

Black, who played just 20 minutes after picking up his fourth personal foul early in the second half, had nine points and seven assists. McGonagill, last season's Ivy League rookie of the year, finished with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds.

"We are still trying to figure each other out and how to complement each other," said Aronhalt, who recorded his second career double-double. "Overall, we played well together."

University of Albany Receiver Cole King Selected Northeast Conference Football Rookie of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2011

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Cole King has been selected as the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week in football, as announced Monday, Nov. 14 by the conference office. King earned the weekly award for the second time this season.

A redshirt freshman from Syracuse, N.Y., King was the Great Danes' leading receiver in a 41-24 come-from-behind victory over Monmouth. He made four receptions for 84 yards, as his team remained in a tie for first place in the NEC standings. King has caught at least two passes in nine of 10 games played this year.

All four of King's catches went for first downs and two of them paved the way for touchdowns on the following play. King caught his first pass of the day, a 32-yard gain that set up Andrew Smith's one-yard TD run. After Monmouth went back in front 10-7, King struck again. The rookie receiver converted a second-and-six situation with a 13-yard catch and the Danes again went onto reach paydirt on the very next play. King added a 19-yard reception and registered a 20-yard gain on a third-and-seven early in the fourth quarter.

King is second on the team in receptions with 29, first in receiving yards, second (525) in touchdown catches (6) and first in average yards per catch (18.1).

Paw Prints: UAlbany meets Sacred Heart in the final game of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 19 ... the Great Danes can earn a share of the Northeast Conference championship with a victory ... UAlbany would also receive the conference's automatic NCAA FCS playoff berth ... the Great Danes have made just one NCAA appearance in its football history, advancing to the 1977 Division III playoffs.

University of Albany's Julie Forster Named First America East Women's Basketball Player of the Week for 2011-12 - UAlbany Sports 2011

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Julie Forster was named the America East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the first week of the 2011-12 season, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

Forster led the Great Danes to a 2-0 start to the season, averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds against Fordham and La Salle. In the season opener at Fordham, Forster scored 16 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while also recording five steals, two assists and one block. In the home opener versus La Salle, Forster scored a career-high 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor and converting 10-of-13 shots from the free throw line. She also tied a career-best with 20 rebounds and recorded five blocks, five steals and three assists, all in 40 minutes of action.

Forster shot 57.6 percent (15-26) from the floor for the week and shot 75.0 percent (12-16) from the free throw line. She sat out just one minute of action in the two games.

Forster Scores a Career-High 26 Points in 81-76 University of Albany Women's Basketball Win Over La Salle - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Julie Forster scored a career-high 26 points and tied a career-best with 20 rebounds to lead UAlbany to an 81-76 win over La Salle in women's basketball action on Sunday afternoon at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes are 2-0 to start the season for the second straight season.

UAlbany jumped out to a 6-0 lead on two baskets by Forster followed by an Ebone Henry layup. However, La Salle then went on a 10-0 run to take a four-point lead on a jumper by Nadia Duncan. A lay-in by Forster tied the game at 10-all, before Alexis Scott put the Explorers back on top by six, 18-12, with just under 13 minutes left to play. La Salle held onto a slight lead until 6:37, when two free throws by Forster tied the game at 20-20 and then gave UAlbany back the lead.

The Explorers powered back, building up a nine-point advantage with a 12-2 run, capped by a layup by Brittany Wilson at 3:51. UAlbany would not give in, coming back over the next minute and a half to pull within one, 32-31, on a 3-pointer by Cassandra Callaway at 2:19. A pair of free throws by Jordan Mosley kept the Explorers on top by three, but layups by Forster and Callaway in the closing minute sealed a 35-34 halftime advantage for the Great Danes.

UAlbany came out of the locker room firing, building up a 10-point lead, 65-55, on a 3-pointer by Lindsey Lowrie at 9:08. The Great Danes continued to roll, pushing the lead to 12 on back-to-back shots from long range from Lowrie and Sarah Royals. La Salle attempted to rally, pulling within six, 75-69, on a jumper by Jordan Mosley with just under three minutes to play. The teams exchanged baskets through the final minute, and Ebonee Jones hit two free throws to pull the Explorers withing five, 79-74 with just 12 seconds left to play. Adrienne Jones converted a layup with under 10 seconds to go, before Ebonee Jones hit a jumper in the paint at the buzzer to set the final score.

Forster, who also posted a career-high five blocks, added five steals and three assists while going 10-for-13 from the free throw line and 8-of-10 from the field in 40 minutes of action. Callaway chipped in with 17 points and a team-high five assists, converting all six of her attempted free throws. Royals and Adrienne Jones also reached double-digit scoring totals, finishing with 11 and 10, respectively.

Brittany Wilson scored a team-high 17 points for La Salle (1-1), while Mosley and Jada Payne added 16 points apiece. Duncan added 11 points and six rebounds, while Mosley led the Explorers off the boards, pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. La Salle outshot the Great Danes, going 43.6-percent from the field, but the Explorers also committed 25 turnovers, including 12 steals by UAlbany.

UAlbany (2-0) will return to action on Wednesday, visiting Iowa at 7 p.m.

University of Albany Volleyball Closes Out Regular Season with 3-0 Sweep of Hartford on Senior Day - UAlbany Sports 2011

Albany, N.Y. - Brooke Stanley recorded 29 assists, six digs, two kills and two service aces to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 sweep of Hartford to close out the regular season on Sunday afternoon at University Gymnasium. Stanley, along with classmates Casey Wright, Laurie Gonzalez and Abbey Wexel were honored in a ceremony prior to the start of the match. The Great Danes defeated Hartford with set scores of 25-18, 25-16 and 25-18.

The teams played a close start to the first set, with Hartford taking a 12-8 advantage on a kill by Michelle Cordell before building a five-point lead on a UAlbany attack error. However, the Great Danes battled back, and tied the match at 15-15 on a kill by Traci Vandegrift, before pulling ahead, 18-15, on a service ace by Gabby Whitworth. A Stanley kill gave UAlbany a 21-17 advantage, prompting Hartford to take a timeout. UAlbany got to set point on a kill by Samantha Brostrom, before Whitworth smacked a kill off a Stanley assist to end the first set.

UAlbany came out firing in the second set, building up a 10-4 advantage behind the service game of Wexel, who recorded three consecutive aces in five service attempts. An ace by Dunja Prgomet gave the Great Danes a 14-4 advantage and UAlbany continued to roll from there. Despite an attempt by Hartford to rally in the late goings, which included a block by Sareeta Nethersole and Lindsay Anderson, the Hawks could not come all the way back. The Great Danes got to set point on a Prgomet kill and took a 2-0 lead on a Hartford attack error.

Whitworth got things going for UAlbany in the third set, serving for nine straight points, including an ace, giving the Great Danes an early 11-2 lead. One of Wright's ten kills put UAlbany ahead, 13-4, and Hartford took a timeout to regroup. UAlbany would not give the Hawks a chance, however, as Natalee Gruse came into serve and posted two aces in six service attempts, putting the Great Danes ahead, 22-9. UAlbany got to match point on one of Whitworth's three aces, but Hartford got a kill from Nethersole and put Michelle Cordell behind the service line. The Hawks rattled off seven straight points before Wright finished off the match with a kill up the middle.

Brostrom and Whitworth each finished with six kills for the Great Danes, who hit .237 for the match. Laurie Gonzalez totaled a team-high eight digs, and also served up one of UAlbany's 12 aces in the match. Nethersole recorded a match-high 13 kills for Hartford (12-18, AE 3-9), while Cordell totaled 13 digs and seven kills. UAlbany out-blocked the Hawks, 7-3, holding Hartford to .139 hitting.

UAlbany (19-8, AE 11-1) will host the America East Conference Championship Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Final seeding and times are to be determined.