University of Albany Volleyball Continues Hot Streak, Defeating Providence in Four Sets on the Road - UAlbany Sports 2011

Providence, R.I. - Casey Wright led three players with double-digit kill totals, totaling 19 on .607 hitting, as UAlbany defeated Providence, 3-1, in America East Conference volleyball action on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Hall. The Great Danes defeated the Friars in four games with set scores of 25-20, 25-11, 23-25 and 25-14.

UAlbany took the first set behind six kills on seven attempts from Wright. Laurie Gonzalez, who finished with a match-high 29 digs, totaled 10 in the first set alone. Providence took an early lead in the set, but UAlbany came back and built up a 20-16 advantage on a kill by Samanta Brostrom. UAlbany got to set point on a kill by Dunja Prgomet and finished off the first on one of Traci Vandegrift's three kills in the set.

UAlbany rolled through the second set, backed by strong serving by the Great Danes. Brooke Stanley served for the first three points, starting with a service ace, and UAlbany built up a 6-2 advantage in the early going. Gabby Whitworth then served for five straight points, including two service aces, putting the Great Danes ahead, 11-2. Providence's service game was not getting support from the offense, as UAlbany capitalized on several Friar errors throughout the set. It was an attack error that gave the Great Danes set point, but a kill by Anna Russian and a UAlbany error kept the match going. Another Providence error ended the set in UAlbany's favor.

The Friars would not go down without a fight, however, getting six kills from Laurent Fletcher in leading Providence to the two-point set win. The set was tied 15 times throughout, including at 23-23 on a kill by Vandegrift following a UAlbany timeout. A service error by the Great Danes gave Providence set point, and Carly Morrison served up on of the Friars' five aces in the match to end the set and extend the match.

UAlbany came out firing in the fourth, getting two kills from Brostrom sandwiching one from Vandegrift to start play. Brostrom served up an ace two points later, giving UAlbany a 5-1 advantage. UAlbany built up a 14-9 lead on a solo block by Vandegrift on an attack attempt by Lauren Hendel, prompting Providence to take a timeout. The Great Danes continued to roll, getting back-to-back kills by Stanley and Wright to put UAlbany ahead, 20-12. Consecutive kills by Vandegrift gave the Great Danes match point, and Brostrom smacked her 11th kill of the match to end play.

Brostrom finished with a double-double, adding 17 digs to her totals, while Stanley added a double-double of the assist-dig variety, totaling 55 assists and 12 digs. Vandegriftwas the third player in double-digit kill totals with 13 off .314 hitting, while Prgomet added 14 digs and nine kills.

Fletcher recorded a team-high 12 kills for Providence (8-20, AE 2-8), while Cassie Muzzonigro finished with a team-best 21 digs. Morrison finished with 33 assists and nine digs, and Kelly Ashmore recorded 11 digs for the Friars.

UAlbany (17-8, AE 9-1) will welcome America East opponent New Hampshire to University Gymnasium on Friday for a 7 p.m. match.