$6.8 Million National Institutes of Health Grant Bolsters UAlbany Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities

The University at Albany’s Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities (CEMHD) has received a $6.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to advance and continue research aimed at eliminating health disparities in smaller cities throughout New York. The new grant will bolster the Center's research to improve access to health screening and quality health care for underrepresented groups, such as African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans. CEMHD projects also seek to promote healthy environments in small communities throughout the state, and provide information to New Yorkers about health maintenance.

The goals of the Center, founded in 2005, are to identify community needs, focus on barriers to health care and prevention programs, and develop specific projects with community groups to test programs that may reduce barriers and improve utilization of health-related services, and ultimately improve health.

"Increasing access to high-quality primary and preventive health care services for New Yorkers has been a focus of Governor David A. Paterson's historic health care reforms over the last two years," said Richard F. Daines, M.D., New York State Commissioner of Health. "This significant support from NIH for the University at Albany's Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities will further break down barriers to care for many vulnerable and underserved individuals in the State. Greater access to services in the State's small cities and a better understanding of health care disparities will result in reduced numbers of hospitalizations among minority populations and a healthier New York."

"The Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities fills an important need by developing effective community-based approaches for improving minority health in New York," said University at Albany President George M. Philip. "I congratulate Director Lawrence Schell and the esteemed research team of the Center for their tireless dedication to improving the health of communities throughout the State."

The projects include:


Identifying successful strategies for overcoming barriers to reproductive healthcare encountered by low-income African-American women in small-town settings;
A national analysis of racial, ethnic and economic disparities in health - over time and by place;
Examining the impact of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead (Pb) on the reproductive health of Akwesasne Mohawk women living near the St. Lawrence River.

From left, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, New York State Commissioner of Health Richard F. Daines, M.D., and UAlbany President George M. Philip were on hand to mark CEMHD's $6.8 million grant from NIH to reduce minority health disparities. (Photo Mark Schmidt)

Researchers at the University at Albany will seek solutions to encourage greater numbers of African American women in small cities like Hudson, N.Y., to use services for reproductive health, including screening for breast and cervical cancer. CEMHD researchers are partnering with Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and other community organizations to develop outreach programs for education and improved access to services.

"We are very excited to work with the University at Albany and the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities," stated Patricia McGeown, President/CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood. "This project will enable us to work with longstanding and new community partners to ensure that reproductive health services are accessible to all local residents, particularly those who may face significant cultural, income or geographical barriers."

"African-American women suffer significant disparities in disease incidence and health outcomes in relation to reproductive health, and we will evaluate intervention strategies that are specifically designed and may be especially effective in small cities and towns," said Schell. This project is led by associate professor Annis Golden and professor Anita Pomerantz of UAlbany's Department of Communication, with additional support from School of Public Health assistant professor Jennifer Manganello.

A second project, involving UAlbany's Department of Economics, will examine the nature of health disparities affecting multiple racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., including non-Latino whites, Latinos, African Americans, Asians, American Indians and native Alaskans, This study will look at how race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status are related to health over a 14-year time period and across communities of varying population size (rural to urban). Using data from the entire nation, researchers will examine whether health differences among racial and ethnic groups in small cites and towns are similar to what is often found in major cities, and whether differences have increased or decreased over time. Distinguished Professor Kajal Lahiri is project director and principal investigator, joined by co-investigator Pinka Chatterji and consultant Zulkarnain Pulungan.

The third part of the research series will examine whether the reproductive health of women of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe on the St. Lawrence River has been adversely affected by toxins. The Akwesasne community is adjacent to one federal and two state Superfund sites affected by environmental toxins including PCBs and lead. The study will follow 180 women ages 21-35 through one menstrual cycle to investigate the effect of PCBs on their reproductive health, with the aim of improving health. Dr. David Carpenter, the director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the School of Public Health, is co-principal investigator and lab director on this project. He is joined by co-investigator Mia V. Gallo (College of Arts and Sciences), associate professor Glenn Deane (sociology), and professor Cheryl Frye (psychology).

“Akwesasne has long been impacted by PCBs from neighboring industries,” remarked Tribal Chief James Ransom. “Women of child-bearing age are a particularly vulnerable at-risk group. We hope this research leads to improved health in our community and we thank UAlbany for the opportunity to participate with them on this important project.”

The Center has worked to build an inventory of existing health resources available to regional communities in Albany and Amsterdam, N.Y., and has developed partnerships with groups to assist in the dissemination of information to at-risk groups. Additionally, CEMHD has helped develop a health disparities certificate program designed to respond to the need for current and future leaders in public health, social services, medicine, and the social sciences (public health, social work, psychology, economics, health communication, and anthropology) to be knowledgeable of the issues and strategies needed to eliminate health disparities. The goal of this graduate program is to train current students and professionals in the field to be leaders in addressing health disparities by building community capacity and sustainability. These key initiatives have been coordinated and developed by associate professor of epidemiology David Strogatz, associate professor of social welfare Robert L. Miller Jr., and community outreach director Wilma Alvarado-Little.

Contact(s): Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

University of Albany School of Education Researchers Author 'Best Practices from High-Performing Middle Schools'

In Best Practices from High-Performing Middle Schools, UAlbany School of Education researhers detail how some middle schools consistently foster better academic performance, regardless of challenges.

Middle schools teach students at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Yet in every testing cycle, middle grade results tend to show less progress than either elementary or high school. Now, as educators and policymakers focus on reducing the high school dropout rate, some point to the middle grades as the place where problems start.

Do any middle schools "get it right?" Yes, say two researchers from the University at Albany’s School of Education. In Best Practices from High-Performing Middle Schools, visiting professor Kristen Wilcox and Janet Angelis, associate director of UAlbany's Albany Institute for Research in Education (AIRE), share what they have learned about how some middle schools consistently foster better academic performance, no matter what challenges their students bring to school.

Having compared schools whose students consistently do well on annual high-stakes tests of English and math to those whose students get average results, the authors identify five key elements of best practice that distinguish higher-performing middle schools:

Trust and respect. They hold everyone to the same expectation of respect for others, whether they are inside the school or in the school’s community. This climate of respect establishes an atmosphere conducive to learning and teaching. It provides the backbone for a successful school.

Teamwork. People work together. Teachers meet regularly to discuss student progress, to coordinate lessons, and to plan curriculum. Furthermore, teachers feel safe to share problems and work together to solve them. They invite parents and community members to join key committees that make important decisions about the school.

Evidence. Teachers and administrators study results before making program decisions. They do research to see how a new program works before trying it out. Teachers look at how their own students are performing, compare results with other teachers, make adjustments and check again. And they do this all along, not just at the end of the year; this way they can catch and address problems before they get out of hand.

Social and emotional well-being. Since social and emotional issues can get in the way of learning, educators find ways to help every student feel that he or she belongs in the school. They make sure that every student has at least one adult to turn to; they also offer a wide variety of activities, clubs, and sports and provide guidance and other social services for students who need them.
Shared mission. Finally, higher-performing schools have a clear mission and have set goals that everyone agrees with and works toward. School board members, teachers, and administrators share a vision of student success, and everything they do is to help achieve that vision. In effective schools the vision includes always trying to do better.

According to the authors, effective middle schools demonstrate all five of these attributes, not just one or a few. Together they provide the supports needed to help adolescents perform well during the middle-school years, and Best Practices from High-Performing Middle Schools is replete with examples of how the successful schools have done it.


Contact(s): Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

University of Albany School of Education Researchers Reveal Reasons Why Some Schools Excel at Science Instruction

UAlbany researchers found that schools demonstrating essential elements of instruction produce students who do well in science.

Researchers at the University at Albany’s School of Education and the Just for the Kids-NY project have found that middle schools demonstrating five essential elements of instruction produce students who consistently do well in science.

The five elements identified in the UAlbany study are:

• All students are given a fair chance to experience how enjoyable and relevant science can be through open enrollment in higher level classes and/or heterogeneous grouping.
• Continual curriculum review and communication among all science educators across all grade levels ensure students learn the fundamentals.
• Teachers and administrators focus on what needs to be learned by using a variety of data to assess student progress.
• Teachers seek ways to collaborate across the curriculum so that students build scientific literacy and fluency.
• Districts hire teachers who not only fit their culture and have scientific knowledge but also want to teach students at the middle level.

Students who experience these elements outperform their peers on New York State Science Assessments and are not only prepared to take higher-level science in high school but are interested in doing so.

To conduct the study, Visiting Assistant Professor Kristen Campbell Wilcox and Distinguished Professor Arthur Applebee selected two groups of schools that are similar in all aspects other than their results on the New York State Intermediate-Level (Grade 8) Science Assessment. In 40 percent of the schools, student poverty levels exceed the state average as measured by free and reduced-price lunch rates. Per pupil expenditures in each school cluster near the state average, and no schools have competitive admissions policies. However, in one group of schools, students consistently scored at or near the mean on the science exam during the years 2006, 2007, and 2008; in the other group, students consistently scored at least one standard deviation higher on the same exam over the same years. Teams of researchers made two-day visits to schools in both groups, interviewing teachers and administrators and observing science classrooms. They then compared the data collected across all sites to identify the elements that marked the difference between the two groups overall. Each element was present in at least half the higher performers and absent in at least half the average performers.

In addition, according to administrators in the higher-performing schools, their students are not only prepared to take higher-level science in high school but also sign up to do so. According to economists, these dual goals -- students both interested in science and prepared to continue their study -- are key to a technologically sophisticated future society.

Both the report and a summary can be ordered or downloaded.

This study is the fourth in which the researchers identified differences between higher- and average-performing schools. Previous studies examined elementary, middle, and high schools generally. Reports of findings and related materials are available at Know Your Schools New York.


Contact(s): Catherine Herman (518) 956-8150

UAlbany Highlights Sustainability in Proposed Student Housing Project and Will Boast LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver Rating

UAlbany Highlights Sustainability in Proposed Student Housing Project and Will Boast
A LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Rating


The proposed apartment-style housing will be similar in amenities to Empire Commons, above.

With record applications and student enrollment that’s grown to 18,000, the University at Albany is developing a new 500-bed dormitory on the southeast portion of the uptown campus near Indian Pond.

The apartment-style housing for upperclassmen would be similar in amenities to Empire Commons and built on 12 acres of undeveloped land. The project will be constructed to be environmentally sustainable, with a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver rating, at a minimum.

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings has proposed transferring an additional 3.3 acres from the Harriman State Office Campus to UAlbany to help facilitate a larger buffer between the project and a residential neighborhood not far from the site.

UAlbany President George M. Philip said the University hopes to acquire this additional acreage in order to help address neighborhood concerns about visual impacts, noise, and storm water.

"We are your neighbors and we want to be good neighbors," said Philip at a public hearing in September.

The University will meet with neighbors to share concept renderings of the project that are based, in part, on neighborhood comments.

According to John Giarrusso, associate vice president for facilities management, UAlbany has very few areas on the densely constructed uptown campus on which to build such housing. The proposed site was selected based on costs, traffic, pedestrian safety, and conformance with campus master planning principles.

"Planning is under way to ensure the site minimizes impacts to the adjacent neighborhood while enhancing the area around the Purple Path and the pond," said Giarrusso.

He said funds for the housing project come from student room rates, not from tax dollars. The project will also serve to decrease traffic during peak hours, as students who once commuted to UAlbany will now live on campus.

Facts on Proposed Student Housing:

Looking at approximately 500 apartment-style beds along with associated parking. The exact number of units could be a bit more or less, depending on the design and architecture of the building.

Similar to Empire Commons with respect to amenities, but not necessarily the look or design, with single bedrooms, four to an apartment, two bathrooms, shared kitchen and living rooms.

There will be a central mail box, exercise, and gathering area for use by the residents.

To save land and maximize construction efficiencies, the new project will likely have more floors than Empire Commons.

It is likely the University will relocate Perimeter Road, stretching it closer to the property line so that the housing can be farther away from neighbors and closer to the interior of campus.

Plans exist to link the new Purple Path (walking path), and extend/improve it through to the Boor Sculpture Studio.

The project is in the design/planning mode now. Surveying and soil testing work occurred over the summer, and environmental reviews are being conducted, to be released in the coming weeks.

Construction could start in early spring 2010 for occupancy in September 2012.

UAlbany NanoCollege Presents First-Ever “Nano in the Mall” Program

The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering ("CNSE") presented its first-ever "Nano in the Mall" program on November 14, highlighting the role of nanotechnology in enabling energy efficiency and conservation.

Led by Dr. Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, CNSE Associate Professor of Nanoengineering, and supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation ("NSF"), the event featured interactive demonstrations, displays and detailed information regarding alternative and renewable energy technologies.

Designed to engage members of the community on the importance of promoting energy efficiency and developing sustainable energy technologies, including new innovations in areas such as solid state lighting, the program gave visitors the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities involving LED lighting, as well as a up-close look at CNSE's research aimed at promoting clean energy technologies.

The event took place during CNSE's month-long community and educational outreach initiative known as NANOvember, part of the CNSE-KeyBank "NEXSTEP" initiative to promote greater understanding of the region's changing economic and business environment driven by nanotechnology, with a special emphasis on children, citizens and community.

University of Albany FCS Football QB Vinny Esposito Chosen Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Somerset, N.J. - University at Albany's Vinny Esposito has been selected Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week in football, as announced on Monday, Nov. 23 by the conference office. Esposito received the weekly award for the second time this season.

Esposito, a senior quarterback from Demarest, N.J., accounted for four touchdowns, all in the first half, in last Saturday's 41-28 victory against Wagner. He threw touchdown passes of nine and 14 yards to help stake his team to a 21-7 lead. Esposito added scoring runs of 8 and 1 yards in the final minutes of the second quarter to help build a 20-point halftime margin. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 248 yards, the eighth time in his career that he surpassed the 200-mark. Esposito made a key play in the final quarter when he fired a 29-yard strike to Tim Bush on a third-and-18 play that ignited a touchdown drive.

Among the program's all-time leaders in several categories, Esposito completed his career second in both passing yards (5,692) and touchdown passes (38). UAlbany (7-4, NEC 6-2) finished in second place in the NEC standings, one game behind league champion Central Connecticut State.

Paw Prints: The Great Danes reached the seven-win mark for the fourth consecutive season ... the Great Danes have posted six or more victories in Northeast Conference play on six occasions ... TB Justin Gannon tied a career-high with 205 all-purpose yards against Wagner ... Gannon rushed for a career-high 86 yards on 19 carries and scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter to seal the outcome ... QB/TB Andrew Smith ran for 98 yards, one off his career-best total, and scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter ... WR Tim Bush made five catches for 77 yards and is the school's all-time leader with 147 career receptions ... FS Dave Casale had seven tackles and is No. 18 on the career list with 224 ... ILB Justin Brancaccio, who has a team-high nine stops vs. Wagner, ended up eighth on the all-time tackles chart with 261 ... TB David McCarty was plagued by seven different injuries in his final season and left last week's game in the second quarter with a hip injury ... McCarty finished his career as the program's leader in rushing yards (4,287), all-purpose yards (4,976) and career 100-yard rushing games (24).

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Basketball's Blake Metcalf Named America East Conference Rookie of the Week - UAlbany Sports 2009

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Blake Metcalf has been chosen America East Conference Rookie of the Week in men's basketball, as announced on Monday, Nov. 23 by the conference office. UAlbany (3-3) won three of four games played last week, including two victories at the 2K Sports Classic Albany Sub-Regional.

Metcalf, a 6-foot-9 freshman from Camby, Ind., was an unsung hero off the bench in two wins at the 2K Sports Classic. He had a career-best nine points, on 4-of-4 shooting, and grabbed four rebounds in Sunday's 71-66 victory over defending Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris. He also totaled six points, a career-high seven rebounds, two blocks and two assists in a first-round tournament win against Alcorn State.

Hoop Notes: UAlbany hosted the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, on Nov. 20-22 at SEFCU Arena ... the Albany Sub-Regional tournament drew 7,832 fans over three days ... UAlbany held all three 2K Sports Classic opponents under 39 percent from the field ... the Great Danes limited Robert Morris to 34.3-percent shooting in the final game of the regional tournament ... Will Harris, a 6'5" senior, posted season-highs in points (22) and rebounds (9) against Robert Morris and was named to the all-tournament team ... the Great Danes have played four opponents in the first two weeks of the season who made last year's NCAA Tournament field ... UAlbany travels to the Sunshine State this week to meet Central Florida (Nov. 28) and Florida Atlantic (Nov. 30).

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Women's Basketball Wins Home Opener, 70-49, Over St. Francis - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - Freshman guard Ebone Henry had 12 of her career-high 16 points in the second half as UAlbany pulled away for a 70-49 victory over Saint Francis, N.Y. in the Great Danes' home opener on Monday, Nov. 23 at SEFCU Arena.

The contest featured 12 lead changes and four ties through the opening 25 minutes of play. Henry tied the game with a pair of free throws and then gave her team a 38-36 advantage when she drove into the lane on an inbounds play. Still leading 38-36, the Great Danes ran off nine straight points. Henry ignited the outburst with a three-point field goal from the left corner and by scoring on a cut in the lane.

UAlbany (2-1) held a 47-38 cushion with 9:21 remaining, but exploded with a string of 14 consecutive markers. Julie Forster, a walk-on freshman, made a layup after making a steal off the top of a 1-3-1 zone defense, before Charity Iromuanya canned a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 15-point cushion. Melia Basavand connected on back-to-back long-range jumpers and Forster drilled two foul shots for a commanding 61-38 lead with 3:55 to play.

"We are going to go far with effort and hard work on defense," explained Henry, whose team forced 27 turnovers and confused the visitors by switching between man-to-man and zone defenses. "Our coach talks about coming off the bench strong. I am trying to score, rebound and do whatever I have to do to help my team."

In the first half, St. Francis (0-3) ran off seven unanswered points to reverse a 17-16 deficit. Kendra Williams made a pair of free throws to put her team in front. Autumn Lau, a freshman who totaled 15 points and 16 rebounds, sank a three-pointer from the left corner and Tiara Dunson made a 19-footer from just inside the top of the arc.

The Great Danes were still trailing 29-25, but Henry converted a drive from the left wing and Felicia Johnson, who had 10 points and five assists, made a 14-foot jumper in transition to draw their team even at halftime. The opening period produced nine lead changes and two ties.

"Our bench lighted a spark," said UAlbany coach Trina Patterson, whose team travels to Hofstra on Wednesday for an afternoon game. "(Ebone) Henry and (Julie) Forster were great. I like the character of this team. We struggled a little bit offensively, but we made shots when needed."

Dunson, a junior guard, finished with 13 points for the Terriers, who were held to 6-of-18 shooting from the field in the second half. UAlbany's Iromuanya had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Forster added a career-best 10.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Will Harris Nets 22 in Basketball's 2K Sports Classic Win Against NEC Champion Robert Morris - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - Will Harris scored 22 points and Tim Ambrose added 15 in leading UAlbany to a 71-66 victory over Robert Morris in the third round of the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, Albany Sub-Regional on Sunday, Nov. 22 at SEFCU Arena. In the first game of the doubleheader, Detroit upended Alcorn State, 79-59.

In a tight-fisted contest, UAlbany (3-3) ran off six unanswered to take an 18-9 lead midway through the opening half. Logan Aronhalt, a redshirt freshman, made a baseline jumper and a 14-footer, while Blake Metcalf hit a jump hook in the lane. Metcalf, a 6-foot-9 freshman, finished with a career-best nine points off the bench.

Robert Morris (1-4), the defending Northeast Conference champion, rallied to within 21-19 when Russell Johnson canned a three-point field goal from the left wing after receiving an in-bounds pass. The Great Danes, who shot 58.3 percent in the period, came back with 10 of the game's next 12 points. Harris drilled a three-pointer from the right side for a 27-21 lead, before Fran Urli scored on inside cut and Metcalf made another basket off Harris' high-low exchange.

The Great Danes, who were coming off a 12-point loss the previous night to Detroit in this three-day regional tournament, settled for a 35-27 advantage at the intermission as the visitors were held to 30-percent shooting in the half. However, UAlbany quickly upped its margin to 12 in the final stanza when senior guard Mike Johnson made a layup and Harris sank two free throws after collecting an offensive rebound.

UAlbany still held a working 11-point margin when Harris, a 6-foot-5 senior, made another 3-pointer from the left wing with 4:14 remaining. The Colonials, who made their first NCAA appearance since 1992 last year, would make a late run.

Velton Jones, a 6-foot sophomore, nailed consecutive long-range jumpers, including one from the top of the arc off a screen that closed the gap to 67-63. Jones finished with 17 points, all in the second half. But UAlbany freshman Derrek Tartt calmly made two fouls shots with 16.4 seconds remaining. Harris, who had 17 second-half points and was named to the all-tournament squad, ended the dramatics with two more free throws.

"They tried to make us play fast and that's when we had trouble," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team won two of three tournament games. "We gave ourselves a chance by executing our halfcourt sets. We got good contributions from a lot of guys. (Will) Harris was aggressive and played with rhythm."

The Colonials' Mezie Nwigie led his team with 18 points. Nwigie joined Alcorn State's Jonathan Boyd and Detroit's Xavier Keeling on the all-tournament team. The Titans' Eli Holman was named most valuable player.

"I am happy that we had a lead from beginning to end," said Harris, who had his first 20-plus outing since last February. "This is the first offseason that I have been healthy. I was able to work out on a consistent basis and it is starting to show now."

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports

University of Albany QB Vinny Esposito Accounts for Four TDs in Football's 41-28 NEC Victory Against Wagner - UAlbany Sports 2009

Staten Island, N.Y. - Senior quarterback Vinny Esposito passed for two touchdowns and ran for two scores, all in the first half, in leading UAlbany to a 41-28 Northeast Conference victory over Wagner on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Wagner College Stadium. The Great Danes finished their season alone in second place in the conference standings, one game behind league champion Central Connecticut State.

UAlbany (7-4, NEC 6-2) had to hold on in the second half after building a 20-point lead at the intermission. Wagner (6-5, NEC 5-3) controlled the third quarter and closed within 34-21 on freshman quarterback Nick Doscher's 2-yard run over right tackle with 10:26 left in the stanza. The Seahawks were looking for most points at the end of the period, but David Lopez missed a 45-yard field goal.

The Great Danes immediately responded with an 8-play, 72-yard drive to start the final quarter. Esposito, who connected on 14 of 21 passes for 248 yards, found Tim Bush with a 29-yard completion on third-and-18 to keep the series alive. Justin Gannon, a senior tailback, capped the sequence with a 12-yard touchdown run for a 41-20 lead with 11:40 to play. Gannon, who got the majority of the work with David McCarty sidelined by a hip injury, finished with a career-high 86 yards on 19 carries.

Doscher, a 22-year-old who was originally was selected in the Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Roylas, moved his team 72 yards to get his club within two scores. Doscher worked his way to the right on fourth-and-goal at the UAlbany 13 and fired a touchdown strike to Justin Matthews, who was wide open in the back of the end zone. The college rookie passed for 156 yards and added 78 on the ground.

But that was as close as the Seahawks would get, as UAlbany used its rushing attack to run down the clock. Andrew Smith, a redshirt freshman, keyed that action and had 98 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Safety Emerson Kinsey intercepted a Doscher pass on the sideline to seal the outcome with 2:42 to play.

"We responded to everything that they gave us," said UAlbany coach Bob Ford, whose team reached the seven-win mark for the fourth consecutive season. "We were a little sloppy in the kicking game and their quarterback is going to give a lot people headaches during his career."

The Great Danes scored twice in a one-minute-and-44-second span of the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead.Smith reached paydirt on an 8-yard run when he faked into the line out of the quarterback position and darted through the middle. After outside linebacker Jon Morgan recovered a fumble, Esposito, the starting signal-caller, hit Smith, out of the tailback spot, in the right flat with a 9-yard touchdown pass.

Wagner regrouped with a 10-play, 83-yard march behind the Doscher's play. Dominque Williams, who rushed for 101 yards, finished off that series with a 28-yard rumble over the right side for a touchdown with 7:32 left in the second quarter. The Great Danes responded with a seven-play drive. Esposito hooked up with McCarty on a 35-yard screen pass, before Smith rushed for 27 yards. Esposito's 14-yard TD pass to fullback Chris Kenneally gave his team a 21-7 advantage.

The Seahawks' Frantz Placide took the following kickoff 89 yards to end zone when he broke through a wedge and sped down the right sideline. UAlbany came back with two scores in the late stages of the period to build a 34-14 halftime lead. Esposito worked his way around right end on an 8-yard option run for the first touchdown. The senior then executed a perfect three-play series from near midfield. He threw a pair of 25-plus yard passes to Gannon and then went over from 1-yard out on a sneak.

"With (David) McCarty sidelined I just wanted to do my part," offered Gannon, who totaled 194 all-purpose yards in his final game as a collegian. "It feels great after the last two games did not go our way. We will always remember this game rather than the losses."

Both UAlbany and Wagner had opportunities to share the conference title coming into the contest. However, Central Connecticut State ended those dreams when the Blue Devils rallied in the fourth quarter for the second straight week in a 14-13 road win against Saint Francis, Pa.

"Everything is kind of sublime right now," said UAlbany's Dave Nicomini, a senior outside linebacker who had eight tackles. "We have had a great run (as seniors) and will miss each other. But we battled through some adversity and we are leaving on a good note."

Paw Prints: UAlbany has posted seven or more wins in eight of their 11 seasons at the NCAA FCS Division I level ... the Great Danes finished with six victories conference play for the sixth time, including three years in a row ... UAlbany is now 5-1 following a bye week as a FCS program ... wide receiver Tim Bush had five catches for 77 yards in his final game and finishes his career as the school's all-time receptions leaders (147) ...senior linebacker Justin Brancaccio had a team-high nine tackles and is eighth on career charts with 261 ...

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Cross Country Teams Post Highest Finishes Ever at IC4A and ECAC Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - Led by freshman All-East selections Alex Leuchanka and Miranda McConnell, the UAlbany cross country teams posted second-place finishes in the University Division races at the IC4A and ECAC championships on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Van Cortlandt Park. Temple and Marist won the men's and women's team titles, respectively.

The UAlbany men's second-place finish was its highest ever at the meet, while the women's runner-up performance, its third overall, matched its best ever. In addition, the average time of the top five finishers for both the men (26:36.38) and the women (18:49.24) were school records at Van Cortlandt Park. Sophomore Ada Lauterbach and junior Jenn Pierson joined Leuchanka and McConnell as All-East picks.

The men's top five finishers were all freshmen and redshirt freshmen. Leuchanka navigated the 8,000-meter course in 26:07.3 to place ninth among 204 runners, while a pack of Great Danes that finished within five seconds of each other rounded out the team's top five. Ethan Clary was 29th in 26:40.8, while Sean Halpin crossed the tape 30th in 26:44.7. Paul Lagno turned in a 31st-place performance for circling the course in 26:44.7, and Craig Weiss was 32nd overall with a time of 26:45.5.

Four of the top five finishers for the women were underclassmen, while the three All-East honorees set a new program standard. McConnell finished first on the squad for completing the 5,000-meter circuit in 18:27.5, which placed her 11th among 192 competitors. Lauterbach finished 13th overall in 18:30.2, and was directly followed by Pierson, who posted a mark of 18:36.2. Freshmen Brianna Service (25th, 18:56.4) and Melissa Del Rosario (59th, 19:35.9) completed the team's top five.

"Both squads had great days," said head coach Craig McVey, who mentored the youngest teams in the America East Conference this season. "This was a great springboard to next fall. Our women and our men know where we can go from here. They also understand that it will be a daily undertaking, and they are ready to embrace what (we are looking to accomplish moving forward)."


IC4A Championship Team Standings (University Division)
1. Temple 70; 2. UAlbany 131; 3. New Hampshire 147; 4. Army 167; 5. Pittsburgh 169; 6. Rutgers 197; 7. Binghamton 198; 8. Rider 218; 9. Central Connecticut 258; 10. Colgate 274; 11. NJIT 281; 12. Fordham 285; 13. Manhattan 289; 14. Fairfield 363; 15. Sacred Heart 372; 16. Mansfield 382; 17. Loyola 420; 18. Monmouth 428; 19. Holy Cross 442; 20. Hofstra 631; 21. Siena 637; 22. St. Francis, N.Y.; 23. Seton Hall 680; 24. Dowling 781.

Individual Champion: Christian Baumbach, NJIT, 25:36.8.
UAlbany Finishers: 9. Alex Leuchanka 26:07.3; 29. Ethan Clary 26:40.8; 30. Sean Halpin 26:43.6; 31. Paul Lagno 26:44.7; 32. Craig Weiss 26:45.5; 36. Chris Manico 26:51.1; 46. David Rothman 27:07.2; 55. John Moore 27:19.1; 69. Cory Greczyn 27:31.1; 80. Ian Ellis 27:37.2; 86. Ryan Florkiewicz 27:41.6.

ECAC Championship Team Standings (University Division)
1. Marist 85; 2. UAlbany 119; 3. Towson 137; 4. Binghamton 147; 5. Sacred Heart 188; 6. New Hampshire 199; 7. Loyola 206; 8. Rider 208; 9. Monmouth 217; 10. Fordham 233; 11. George Mason 297; T-12. Mansfield 342; T-12. Holy Cross 342; 14. Seton Hall 378; 15. Fairfield 384; 16. Colgate 389; 17. VCU 408; 18. St. John's 411; 19. Hofstra 512; 20. Siena 543.

Individual Champion: Brence Edwards, Mansfield, 17:25.0.
UAlbany Finishers: 11. Miranda McConnell 18:27.5; 13. Ada Lauterbach 18:30.2; 14. Jenn Pierson 18:36.2; 25. Brianna Service 18:56.4; 59. Melissa Del Rosario 19:35.9; 68. Maureen Nweke 19:45.5; 98. Ally Panos 20:04.4; 145. Zuliana Fontanez 21:02.1; 164. Roxanne Wegman 21:28.5.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Men's Basketball Falls to Detroit, 66-54, on Second Day of 2K Sports Classic at SEFCU Arena

Albany, N.Y. - Xavier Keeling scored 21 points and Eli Holman added 20 points and 14 rebounds in leading Detroit to a 66-54 victory over UAlbany on the second day of the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, Albany Sub-Regional at SEFCU Arena. Robert Morris posted a 107-76 win against Alcorn State in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Detroit (3-1) reversed a 16-15 deficit in the opening half by reeling off 18 of the game's next 21 points. Keeling hit a slam dunk to put his team in front following Woody Payne's steal. Payne added two free throws and jumper for a five-point cushion. The Titans later ended the outburst when Keeling and Thomas Kennedy each made a pair of foul shots for a commanding 34-19 advantage.

UAlbany (2-3) regrouped to cut that lead in half by the intermission. Logan Aronhalt, a redshirt freshman, canned a three-pointer and Scotty McRae scored after gaining an offensive rebound to bring the margin under double figures. Detroit settled for a 40-33 halftime lead.

In the second half, Jake Lindfors, a redshirt freshman who had a career game with eight points and seven rebounds, split two free throws to get his team within 40-36. Still clinging to a six-point margin midway through the period, the Titans pulled away with seven unanswered. Keeling, who made 10-of-11 from the line, made two free throws. Holman, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound transfer from Indiana University, later put back Payne's missed layup. Payne hit another from the charity stripe for a 54-41 lead.

The Titans, who held their opponent to 30.4-percent shooting after the break, led by as much as 19 with just under five minutes remaining. Payne finished with 10 points, five assists and four steals.

"We had defensive intensity," said Detroit coach Ray McCallum, who is in his second season after previously guided the Ball State and Houston programd. "They run great sets and turn you over. We made them go to their second and third option with constant pressure. Our perimeter defense was good."

Tim Ambrose was UAlbany's lone player in twin figures with 12 points. Mike Johnson and Will Harris added nine and seven points, respectively. Both teams were under the 40-percent mark from the field.

"We struggled to get the ball in the basket and went through a seven- or eight-minute drought in the second half," explained UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose team also had 20 turnovers. "We lost to a talented team. (Woody) Payne is a good defensive guard. They were physical with (Will) Harris and (Tim) Ambrose and denied them the ball."

The 2K Sports Classic Sub-Regional concludes on Sunday with Detroit meeting Alcorn State at 2:30 p.m., followed by UAlbany and Robert Morris.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Falls in America East Conference Championship Match

Albany, N.Y. - Most Outstanding Player Lindsey Mueller recorded a double-double with 45 assists and 10 digs to lead Binghamton to the 2009 America East Conference Championship title, defeating UAlbany, 3-1, at University Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats won with set scores of 25-19, 27-25, 12-25 and 25-19, to claim their second championship title.

The teams played even to start the match, before Binghamton went on a 5-0 run to build up an 11-5 advantage. UAlbany battled back to pull within 15-12 on a kill by Teresa Coppiellie, but Binghamton continued to roll behind the powerful hitting of Anna Lejina and Michelle McDonough, who finished with seven and six kills, respectively, in the set. Sandra DeVito and McDonough served for four combined points before UAlbany attempted to rally behind Coppiellie's service game. Back-to-back kills by Hillary White brought the Great Danes back within 24-17, while consecutive service aces on set point kept UAlbany alive. However, a service error ended the set in Binghamton's favor.

Coppiellie, who was named to the all-championship team, continued her strong play in the second set, getting a kill to tie the match at 1-1, and then serving for five straight points to give the Great Danes a 6-1 advantage. Binghamton battled back, pulling to within 12-10, and then tying the set at 14-14 on a UAlbany attack error. The Bearcats followed with a combined block by DeVito and Dawn Lammert and a kill by McDonough to take a 16-14 lead. UAlbany rallied to tie the match for a second time at 17-17 with a kill by Coppiellie and then took a one-point lead with a block by Casey Wright and Kalyn Mostert. UAlbany rallied to set point at 24-22 on a Sourbeer kill, but the Bearcats would not fold, tying the match and getting set point of their own on a Great Dane attack error. Sourbeer smashed another kill to set the score at 25-25, but McDonough and Lejina recorded consecutive kills to claim the set win in extra points.

UAlbany would not go down without a fight, taking the third set behind Coppiellie's impressive service game. After Lejina tied the set at 9-9, Coppiellie recorded a kill to give serve back to the Great Danes. The junior outside hitter served for 12 straight points, putting UAlbany ahead 22-9 before Binghamton ended the run with a kill from DeVito. The teams exchanged points, with UAlbany getting set points at 24-11 on a Sourbeer kill. McDonough recorded a kill of her own to keep Binghamton alive, but a ball handling error on the Bearcats gave UAlbany the third set victory.

UAlbany would attempt to recreate its 2006 championship run by coming back from an 0-2 deficit, but would come up short in the fourth set. The teams played evenly matched in the early going, with UAlbany holding a slight lead before Mueller tied the score at 9-9 with a service ace. Mueller served for four straight points to put the Bearcats ahead, 14-10, before White recorded a kill to take over serve. White then served for four consecutive points to put the Great Danes ahead, 15-14, before McDonough ended the rally with a kill. A Mueller block tied the set at 17-17, but Wright recorded a kill to put the Great Danes back in front. McDonough recorded a kill and took over serve, capitalizing on two kills from Lejina and a UAlbany attack error to put the Bearcats ahead, 21-18. Coppiellie took an assist from Brooke Stanley to pull within 21-19, but the Great Danes were caught out of rotation to give the ball back to Binghamton. Alex Roland combined with Lejina and Mueller to block the final two UAlbany attacks and seal the win for the Bearcats.

America East Player and Setter of the Year Stanley was named to the all-tournament team for the third straight season after finishing with 41 assists and 12 digs. She also recorded four kills and a team-high .364 hitting percentage. Coppiellie also recorded a double-double in her all-tournament team worthy effort, finishing with a team-high 14 kills and 15 digs along with a career-best six service aces.

Lejina and McDonough were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts, recorded 22 and 21 kills, respectively. Lejina led the team with a .362 hitting percentage, while McDonough recorded a double-double with 10 digs. Binghamton (15-15) earns the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament and will find out its first-round match up during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, Nov. 29.

UAlbany (21-9) will conclude its season on Saturday, Nov. 28, at home against American.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Derrek Tartt Provides Spark in Basketball's 71-55 Victory on First Day of 2K Sports Classic - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - Will Harris scored 15 points and Derrek Tartt came off the bench to add 13 as UAlbany defeated Alcorn State, 71-55, on the first day of the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, Albany Sub-Regional on Friday, Nov. 20 at SEFCU Arena. In the first game of the doubleheader, Detroit upended Robert Morris, 71-59.

UAlbany (2-2) led 36-28 at halftime, but then ripped off seven unanswered to begin the final period. Jake Lindfors, a redshirt freshman, made a reverse layup off a high-low feed, before Mike Johnson scored on the left baseline. Harris, who made 6-of-8 from the floor, finished off a fastbreak with a slam dunk for a 15-point advantage.

The Great Danes, who were coming off their first victory of season four days earlier, stretched out to a 49-31 margin when Blake Metcalf converted an offensive rebound. The 6-foot-9 freshman had six points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in a reserve role.

Alcorn State (0-4) would regroup and cut into the lead over the next six minutes. Jonathan Boyd, who led all scorers with 16 points and made four 3-point shots, hit drive on the right baseline in transition and later canned a three-point field goal from the right wing off a screen to slice the deficit to 56-48.

UAlbany's Harris answered with a three-pointer from the top of the arc. Still leading 61-52, the Great Danes finally sealed the verdict with eight consecutive points. Brett Gifford sank a 12-foot jumper and Johnson made a layup following a steal. Scotty McRae, who totaled seven points and six rebounds, hit a slam dunk from a driving Tim Ambrose and made two foul shots for a 69-52 lead with 3:00 remaining.

"We are not in rhythm as a team right now," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, who was pleased with the win but not happy with his team's 21 turnovers. "I wanted to get guys some time and play the freshmen. We are not going to win any style points, but I think we have the pieces to get ready for conference play."

In the first half, the Great Danes led by as much as 11 points midway through the period after freshman guard Mike Black nailed a long-range jumper. The Braves would eventually close within 31-28 as Ian Francis connected on a jump hook on the right baseline. Tartt, a freshman guard who made 4-of-5 from the field, made a three-pointer and Logan Aronhalt delivered on a dunk in transition to end the period.

"We have to play three days, so we need to take care of our bodies and stay hydrated," explained Harris, whose team meets Detroit on Saturday and Robert Morris on Sunday in this regional tournament. "Our young guys come to practice every day and this just proves that practice pays off."

Brandon Rogers was the only other Alcorn State player in double figures with 10 points. UAlbany's Ambrose had eight points, six rebounds and a career-high seven assists.

"I was just looking to attack and be aggressive," offered Tartt, who netted 11 of his scoring total in the opening half. "I took shots that were open, but I still have to play better on defense."


2K Sports Classic, Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer
Albany Sub-Regional, SEFCU Arena

Saturday, Nov. 21
Alcorn State vs. Robert Morris, 4:30 p.m.
UAlbany vs. Detroit, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 22
Alcorn State vs. Detroit, 2:30 p.m.
UAlbany vs. Robert Morris, 5:00 p.m.



Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Advances to America East Volleyball Championship Match With 3-0 Win Over UMBC in Semifinals - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - America East Conference Player and Setter of the Year Brooke Stanley finished with a double-double of 30 assists and 13 digs to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 sweep of UMBC in the first semifinal match of the 2009 America East Volleyball Championship, held at University Gymnasium on Friday afternoon. The Great Danes won with match scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-11.

UAlbany jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage in the first set behind Stanley's service game. After a UAlbany ball handling error gave UMBC its first point, the Great Danes got a kill from Valerie Sourbeer and consecutive kills from Teresa Coppiellie to build up a 7-1 lead. UAlbany continued to roll in the set, getting up 19-9 on a UMBC error. The Retrievers took over serve after a kill by Ali Loynachan and took advantage on back-to-back UAlbany attack errors to pull within 19-12. UMBC attempted to rally late, pulling within 23-19 before a service error gave the ball back to UAlbany. Coppiellie recorded a service ace on set point for UAlbany.

The Great Danes came out firing again the second set, building up a 5-1 lead in the early going on a block assist by Casey Wright and Kalyn Mostert. UMBC powered back to tie the mach at 7-7, getting consecutive blocks by Alyssa Lang and Iman Kennedy and a service ace from Ashley Oscars. The Retrievers took a 8-7 lead on a UAlbany attack error, but a kill by Coppiellie put the Great Danes back in control. Coppiellie served for three straight points to put UAlbany back on top, 12-9. The teams exchanged points before Stanley took over the service game, producing three points, including a kill and solo block by Sourbeer. Lang and Kennedy combined for another block to pull the Retrievers within 20-16, but a kill by White ended UMBC's attempt at a rally. Abbey Wexel came into the game to serve, getting the Great Danes set point with a service ace. Lang took an assist from Kira Giles to keep the set alive, but Coppiellie smashed a kill to end the set in UAlbany's favor.

UMBC had first serve in the final set, getting a solo block from Oscars and a combined block by Loynachan and Sarah Joy to start play. UAlbany tied the score at 2-2 on a kill by Wright and a service ace by Stanley, before a service error gave the ball back to UMBC at 3-3. Sourbeer recorded a kill on the Retrievers' serve to put the ball in Laura Livergood's hands. Livergood proceeded to serve for eight straight points, putting the Great Danes up 12-3 on a Mostert kill. Lang recorded a kill to pull the Retrievers within 15-8, but UAlbany recorded nine of the next 10 points, getting to set point at 24-9 on a UMBC attack error. Naomi Bush recorded back-to-back kills to keep the Retrievers alive, but Wright finished the match off with a kill in the middle.

Sourbeer finished with a match-high 11 kills for UAlbany, while Coppiellie added nine. The Great Danes had three players finish with double-digit digs, led by Stanley. Mostert and Gonzalez recorded 11 and 10, respectively. Loynachan led UMBC with six kills, while Giles recorded 15 assists. Lang totaled a team-high 11 digs and three block assists. Both teams finished with 10 total blocks in the match. UMBC finishes up the season with a 13-13 overall record.

UAlbany (21-8) will advance to the America East Championship match, to be held on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Great Danes, who will be playing for their fourth consecutive championship title, will face the winner of the second semifinal between second-seeded New Hampshire and third-seeded Binghamton.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany's Volleyball Setter Brooke Stanley Sweeps Both the 2009 Player of the Year and Setter of the Year Awards

Albany, N.Y. – Following in the footsteps of a former Great Dane, University at Albany junior setter Brooke Stanley (Hendersonville, N.C./West Henderson) swept both the 2009 Player of the Year and Setter of the Year awards, as voted on by the league’s volleyball head coaches. Teammate sophomore Laurie Gonzalez (Carolina, Puerto Rico/St. Francis School) shared the Defensive Specialist of the Year honor with University of New Hampshire junior Sara Heldman (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove), while UMBC outside hitter Naomi Bush (Fruitport, Mich./Fruitport) was tabbed the Rookie of the Year. Albany Head Coach M.J. Engstrom rounded out the end of season hardware with her first career Coach of the Year recognition.

Stanley, a 5-8 setter, was a seven-time recipient of the Setter of the Week award and also earned the league’s Player of the Week honor once while recording 11 double-doubles. Also earning Setter of the Year last season, the junior led America East in assists with 10.70 helpers per set. Stanley topped 1,000 assists for the third straight season and has already reached 3,000 assists for her career as a junior. Stanley has given opponents headaches with her all-around play though, racking up 31 service aces and 2.83 digs per set, ranking fourth and ninth, respectively. She is the only setter to rank among the top ten in either one of those categories. Come conference matches, Stanley’s numbers become even more impressive, averaging 11.61 assists and 3.64 digs per set, while recording 13 aces in 33 sets against America East foes.

Stanley becomes just the second player in conference history to sweep both the Player and Setter of the Year awards since the Setter of the Year award was first handed out in 2000. The only other recipient of both honors was former Great Dane Blair Buchanan ‘06, who did so for three straight years beginning as a sophomore in 2004.

Gonzalez, a 5-9 libero, is another repeat selection, earning Defensive Specialist of the Year honors as a freshman. The sophomore led the conference in digs with 4.95 per set, ranking 35th in Division I. Gonzalez reached double-digit digs in 22 of 24 matches, setting a season and career high of 31 digs in a four-set victory over Colgate. She finished the regular season with 15 double-digit dig performances, including a 30-dig effort against league-rival Binghamton.

Heldman, a 5-9 libero who changed positions after seeing time as a setter last year, finished with a league-high 5.30 digs per set in conference matches. She finished with a 4.80 digs per set average overall, good for 49th in the country, and recorded double-digits in 25 of 27 matches, including the final 12 contests of the season. Facing a must-win situation in the last weekend of the regular season, Heldman helped New Hampshire surge back from a two-set deficit against Stony Brook by digging out a conference-high 38 balls. She also served up 20 aces this season, good enough for top 20 in the conference.

Bush, a 6-0 outside hitter, becomes the fourth Retriever in the past five years to take home the top award for a rookie, including the second consecutive. Bush, an outside hitter, finished second for UMBC with 2.48 kills per set, hitting at a .233 clip. She is ranked second among America East freshmen in both those categories. Bush led all rookies in the league with 2.85 points per set, which also ranked 13th among all conference leaders. This four-time Rookie of the Week recipient also contributed 10 aces and 29 total blocks in her freshman campaign.

Engstrom is in her second year leading the Great Danes and has a perfect 22-0 record in America East play since she has taken over, including a 10-0 record during this season’s conference slate. The Albany head coach has led the squad to the top seed in this year’s championship with her team sitting atop the league rankings in five of seven statistical categories. Also for the second consecutive year, she has coached the league’s top player, setter and defensive specialist.

Besides Stanley, this year’s All-Conference First Team is also made up of Albany’s Teresa Coppiellie (Canton, Mich./Canton), Valerie Sourbeer (Valley Center, Calif./Valley Center/Pacific) and Hillary White (Aberdeen, S.D./Aberdeen/Colorado State), Binghamton University’s Michelle McDonough (Orland Hills, Ill./Andrew), New Hampshire’s Lindsay Fogarty (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley) and Stony Brook University’s Harmonie Calinda (Huntington, N.Y./Hofstra).

Gonzalez and Heldman are both joined on the second team by Binghamton’s Anna Lejina (Riga, Latvia/Riga Secondary/University of Latvia), UMBC’s Alyssa Lang (Richmond, Va./Deep Run), New Hampshire’s Kirsten Bates (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll), Stony Brook’s Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va./St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes HS) and Lindsey Gordon (N. Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford).

The six-player All-Rookie Team includes Bush, Binghamton’s Alexandrea Roland (Austin, Texas/Austin), University of Hartford’s Kami Nethersole (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson), UMBC’s Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair), Stony Brook’s Sally Downs (Coppell, Texas/Coppell) and Corinne Perry (Northport, Texas/Northport).

Eleven of the all-conference first and second team honorees will be in action at University Gymnasium in Albany this weekend for the 2009 America East Volleyball Championship. The top-seeded Great Danes will take on the fourth-seeded UMBC Retrievers in the first semifinal on Friday at noon, while the second-seeded Wildcats will play the third-seeded Binghamton Bearcats at 3 p.m. The winners will play for an automatic NCAA Championship berth and the league title on Saturday, November 21 at 1 p.m.

Inside Lacrosse No. 30 Young Gun Senior James Cathers, A, Corcoran, N.Y. Has Committed To UAlbany

More big news out of Great Danes country. Inside Lacrosse No. 30 Young Gun Senior James Cathers, A, Corcoran, N.Y. has committed to Albany, according to a source close to the program.

Cathers’ commitment follows Albany’s big news earlier this week that No. 5 Inside Lacrosse Young Gun Senior Miles Thompson, A, LaFayette, N.Y. signed an NLI to play for the Great Danes, and that his brother, No. 1 Inside Lacrosse Young Gun Junior Lyle Thompson, M, LaFayette, N.Y.

Cathers earned our No. 30 spot after a strong spring, dropping 104 points for Corcoran. He also had a nice showing at the Under Armour All-American Underclassman tournament, helping Team Upstate make the championship game against Long Island.

at 6-0, 220 lbs., Cathers’ size will give Albany’s attack a different weapon to matchup with Miles and Ty Thompson (Miles and Lyle’s cousin from Salmon River who also signed an NLI this period).

Cathers’ a high senior, but it is not yet confirmed if a NLI was signed during the period or if this is a verbal commitment.

http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2009/11/19/recruiting-roundup-no-30-cathers-to-albany-cornell/

UAlbany Hosts 2009 America East Volleyball Championship on Nov. 20-21 at University Gym

Cambridge, Mass. - After completing its second straight undefeated conference season, the University at Albany is the top seed and will host the 2009 America East Conference Volleyball Championship on Nov. 20-21 at University Gymnasium on campus. It is the third time in the last four years that UAlbany will host the league's postseason tournament. The Great Danes, who have won 16 matches in a row, have captured the America East regular-season title in four of the last five seasons.

UAlbany (20-8, AE 10-0) will face fourth-seeded UMBC (13-12, AE 5-5) in the first semifinal on Friday at 12 noon. New Hampshire (13-14, AE 5-5), which won four straight league matches to end the regular season and move from fifth to second in the standings, will take on third-seeded Binghamton (13-15, AE 5-5) in the second semifinal at 3 p.m.. The semifinal winners will play for the conference championship and an automatic NCAA Tournament berth on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.

A four-way tie for the final three seeds in the tournament field emerged after regular-season play was completed. New Hampshire, Binghamton, UMBC and Stony Brook all finished with 5-5 conference records, and the deadlock had to be broken by going deep into the tie-breaking criteria. Three of UNH's last four wins were over Binghamton, Stony Brook and UMBC.

UAlbany will welcome the other three teams and fans to University Gymnasium for the championship. Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for youth aged 14 and under, and $2 for America East students with proper ID. More information on the championship can also be found at the America East website, www.americaeast.com.

**********

2009 America East Conference Volleyball Tournament
(University Gymnasium, Albany, N.Y.)

Friday, Nov. 20

Semifinal Round
#1 UAlbany (20-8, AE 10-0) vs. #4 UMBC (13-12, AE 5-5), 12 p.m.
#2 New Hampshire (13-14, AE 5-5) vs. #3 Binghamton (13-15, AE 5-5), 12 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21

Championship
Winner Semifinal #1 vs. Winner Semifinal #2, 1 p.m.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Hosts 2K Sports Classic, Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, on Nov. 20-22 at SEFCU Arena

Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany hosts the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, on Nov. 20-22 at SEFCU Arena. The Great Danes open the three-day, six-game tournament against Alcorn State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Detroit and Robert Morris meet in the opener at 5:00 p.m.

The Braves, who compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, have just one starter returning. Alcorn State (0-3) started its season with road losses at Ohio State, Arkansas and Louisiana-Monroe. Head coach Larry Smith, who is in his second year, played 13 seasons in the NBA with Golden State, Houston and San Antonio. Smith is hoping to turnaround the fortunes of his alma mater. Jonathan Boyd, a 6-foot-3 senior, averaged 9.3 points and was the SWAC's top three-point shooter at 40.3 percent last year. JaMarkus Holt, at 6'8" and 240 pounds, adds presence in the lane. He contributed 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds last year.

Head coach Ray McCallum has increased his roster talent in his second season with program. McCallum, who is no stranger to college basketball, took Ball State to a pair of NCAA appearances and Houston to one NIT Tournament. The Titans (1-1) are picked sixth in the Horizon League's preseason poll. Eli Homan was a top 100 high school player when he originally signed with Indiana. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he has been selected by The Sporting News as the league's top newcomer. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds in his team's victory over Western Michigan on Nov. 15. Central Michigan transfer Chase Simon (6'6") is off to a solid start in his Detroit career. He netted 22 points and made five 3-pointers vs. Western Michigan.

The Colonials are coming off their first NCAA appearance since 1992 after winning last year's Northeast Conference championship. Mike Rice, a two-time NEC coach of the year, led the program to a 24-11 record last year. Rob Robinson is the team's top returning scorer (11.2 ppg) and rebounder (5.6 pg). Robinson, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward, earned second-team All-NEC recognition and was a member of the conference all-tournament squad. Dallas Green (6'8") will always be known as the player who made the game-winning shot in last year's championship. He averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds and the Colonials were 18-4 with him as a starter. Robert Morris (0-2) began this year with losses at Syracuse and Penn State.

UAlbany (1-2) edged defending Patriot League champion American, 51-50, in its last outing on Nov. 16. Tim Ambrose scored the winning basket on a follow shot in the lane. Scotty McRae had a career-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench. The Great Danes are hosting their first in-season tournament since the 1997-98 campaign.

Tickets for the 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, are available by calling the UAlbany Ticket Office at 518-442-4683. Fans can listen to the UAlbany games on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM, with Rodger Wyland and Greg Tobben handling the broadcasts.

2K Sports Classic, Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer
Albany Sub-Regional, SEFCU Arena

Friday, Nov. 20
Detroit vs. Robert Morris, 5:00 p.m.
UAlbany vs. Alcorn State, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21
Alcorn State vs. Robert Morris, 4:30 p.m.
UAlbany vs. Detroit, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 22
Alcorn State vs. Detroit, 2:30 p.m.
UAlbany vs. Robert Morris, 5:00 p.m.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Lacrosse Announces Stellar Recruiting Class

Albany, N.Y. -- University at Albany men's lacrosse coach Scott Marr announced today that seven student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2010-2011 academic year. The list includes two U.S. Lacrosse High School All-Americans.

"The class is not quite complete, but is certainly shaping up to be one of the most dynamic classes we have brought in since the program moved to Division I," UAlbany coach Scott Marr said. "It starts on the back line with tough kids, to an athletic midfield, and tremendous finishers on the front line. I commend my assistants Chris Kivlen and Bill Ralph for their efforts in bringing this group together. It is pleasing to see this develop."

Miles Thompson was named as a high school All-American after accounting for 95 goals and 56 assists as a junior. He led LaFayette High to a 23-1 record and the New York Class C state championship final. Thompson earned a spot on the Syracuse Post Standard All-Central New York first team. He was honorable mention All-Northeast, All-Section III and All-Onondaga Division III.

Ty Thompson, Miles' cousin, also received first-team All-America recognition. He was Section X's top scorer with 73 goals and 38 assists and led Salmon River High to an 18-1 mark and the program's first-ever state playoff win. Thompson, who is attending Salisbury School in Connecticut, was chosen Northern Athletic Conference MVP. In addition, he was an honorable mention all-state selection as a forward in ice hockey.

Ryan Feuerstein led Hamburg High to three consecutive Section VI championships from his midfield position. He was voted first-team All-Western New York after totaling 41 goals and 21 assists last season. Feuerstein, who won 70 percent of his face-offs, was a Class B first-team all-league selection. Doug Eich was an honorable mention All-Section I and Journal News All-Star. He had 28 goals and 21 assists, including a 10-point peformance against Nyack.

Eric Sanders, a 6-foot-6 left-hander, is one of three players off his Downingtown West High School team to make a Division I college commitment. Sanders, who had 28 goals and 24 assists as a junior, was a second-team All-Ches-Mont League attackman. He led his squad to the District I playoffs and won a bronze medal at the 2009 Keystone Games.

The Great Danes also signed two players from Capital Region scholastic programs. Mike Daly, a 6-foot-1 midfielder, has twice been named first-team All-Empire Division as a defensive back and wide receiver in football. He earned second-team all-area honors as junior. Cody Futia, a 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman, led Guilderland High to a 20-3 record and a state regional final last year. He was an All-Empire Division linebacker as a member of the Dutchmen football team.

UAlbany has won four America East Conference championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances as a Division I program. The Great Danes reached the 2007 NCAA quarterfinals.

Chris Manico Named to America East Men's Cross Country All-Academic Team

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Chris Manico was named to the America East Conference All-Academic Men's Cross Country Team, as announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17 by the league office.

Manico, an accounting major with a minor in business administration, carries a 3.66 cumulative grade point average and made the America East Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll last year. The sophomore placed 24th overall and third on the team in 26:43 at the 2009 America East Conference Championship to help the league's youngest squad place fourth among nine teams, which was its highest finish in five years. In addition, Manico ran a personal-best time on an 8,000-meter course at the 43rd UAlbany Invitational, finishing 30th in 25:46. His performance helped the Great Danes place third among 24 scoring teams.

To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team's games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Inside Lacrosse Laxies Presented by Lax World: Brett Queener Is IL’s Personality of the Year Winner

Brett Queener's year included an appearance on IL's August issue coverLike Miss America, Brett Queener rolled around North America reppin’ his 2008 Personality of the Year crown to the masses.

The winner of the first-ever Laxie for Personality of the Year, Queener did it just as big in 2009, if not bigger. The Penn Yan, N.Y. native got after it in every way for lacrosse fans, hitting the NLL carpet as a transition player for the Boston Blazers, hitting the camps circuit around the country, winning the MLL All-Star Game Freestyle Competition, winning a second MLL title with the Toronto Nationals, hitting up IL’s cover in some sick Evel Knievel getup.

Long story short, it was tough to get away from the guy.

Fans, judging by the comments on our blogs, either loved or hated the guy. Most loved…others felt his game was more sizzle than steak, but when the votes were tallied, the landslide was clear: Queener took 57% of the vote, with Max Seibald coming in second at 16% and Paul Rabil (13%), Geoff Snider (7%) and Ryan Hoff (6%) finishing even further behind.

To celebrate his victory, we asked Brett to run down his year’s reign for our readers (and for good measure, we also included some helpful links to past stories and the ever-popular Queener Cam on ILTV). Enjoy and remember - try to have fun out there. Brett sure is.

Queener’s Year with the Crown

Hawaii was Sick
This was the first booking on my tour with the crown, so it was important for me to let everyone know what I was all about. From mudslides to shuffleboard, to flips off balconies, to throwing sticks over people’s heads/swapping sticks/back-breakers, it’s a trip I’ll never forget. (And it ended with a championship.)

Boston Blazers

Geoff Snider introduces himself to our Personality of the YearIndoor was something that had been on my mind my entire life. It was a position I’d never played, but a game I’d always thought was the pinnacle of lacrosse, so to actually make it was one of the best accomplishments of my life.

My first game on the road was in Philly, and I turned up the boards and made eye contact with a whole family of Wings fans and they all flipped me the bird. I knew I’d made it in the indoor world.

If you put my Facebook picture in there, also let it be known that I did knock Snider down the next game.

All-Star Freestyle Competition

I didn’t plan on doing the trick competition. The MLL called my house and left a message, and my dad called and told me I had to do it. I agreed before I had any idea what I was going to do. I figured it out the week before, and a few hours beforehand changed the plan when Alex Smith gave me the Gator idea — that got more of an “OOOOO” than clapping. The Michael Jackson dance was from Nick Weimer, a camper at Pfeiffer University, N.C., who taught me the basics to the Moon Walk. Two days later I did it in Denver and it was really bad because it’s tough to do on grass.

MLL Championship
The one thing I don’t like about my image is I get laughed off as a sideshow act. I love to play lacrosse, and that’s why I play. I play the way I want to, and if I couldn’t play that way, I wouldn’t.

It crushed me that I broke my hand [in the semifinal] because obviously I wanted to play. When the doctors told me there was a chance I could give it a go, I didn’t care whether I’d have arthritis down the road because there was nothing in the world I wanted more than playing that lacrosse game.

That game meant so much to me. I think it’s the ‘in’ thing to hate on pro lacrosse. Hate all you want — I know the guys around the league are proud people. As the crowned leader in the community of lacrosse, I need to spread the word that guys take their job seriously.

http://blogs.insidelacrosse.com/2009/11/17/inside-lacrosse-laxies-presented-by-lax-world-brett-queener-is-ils-personality-of-the-year-winner/

UAlbany FCS Football Meets Wagner With NEC Title Implications; Game Televised By Fox College Sports

Albany, N.Y. - Following a bye week, UAlbany concludes its 2009 football season when the Great Danes travel to Wagner in Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Nov. 21. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. The regular-season finale has conference title implications for both teams. UAlbany (6-4, NEC 5-2) can share the championship with a win and a Central Connecticut State loss. Wagner (6-4, NEC 5-2) is in the same situation and would be the NEC's representative to the Gridiron Classic due a tie-breaker formula.
Fox College Sports will air the UAlbany-Wagner contest, with Paul Dottino and Matt Harmon handling the broadcast as part of the Northeast Conference television package. The game will also be seen locally on Time Warner Cable (TW3). Fans can also listen to the NEC battle on Fox Sports 980, WOFX-AM.

Paw Prints: UAlbany has won or shared four NEC championships and trail Robert Morris and Monmouth, who have each captured five conference titles, in that category ... UAlbany has reached the seven-win mark in seven of its previous 10 Division I FCS seasons ... the Great Danes were off last week and are 4-1 in games following a bye as an FCS program ... UAlbany has been involved in four games decided by three points or less this season ... the Great Danes have not had a season where at least four games were decided by three points or less since 1993 ... ILB Justin Brancaccio is ninth on the all-time tackles chart with 252, while OLB Dave Nicomini is 14th with 234 ... FS Dave Casale ranks 17th on the program's career tackles list with 217 ... WR Tim Bush has 58 receptions for 784 yards and three touchdowns ... Bush's catches rank second on the school's single-season list ... Bush is the program's career leader with 142 receptions ... TB David McCarty is 19th among the FCS rushing leaders (91.7 ypg) despite struggling with injuries throughout the season ... McCarty is third on the NEC's career rushing list with 4,270 yards ... the senior needs one touchdown to tie Gary Jones's career mark of 42 and six points to match Jones' career scoring record (252) ... Bob Ford is sixth among all-time FCS coaches with 240 wins at the collegiate level.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

University of Albany Men's Basketball Records First Win By Edging Defending Patriot League Champion American - UAlbany Sports 2009

Washington, D.C. - Tim Ambrose scored on a follow shot in the lane in the closing minutes and UAlbany hung on in the stretch for a 51-50 victory over American on Monday, Nov. 16 in the Eagles' home opener at Bender Arena.

UAlbany (1-2) trailed by as much as eight points early in the second half and were still behind 41-34 before making a move. Scotty McRae, who tallied a career-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench, sank a 16-footer in the circle and canned a three-point field goal from the top of the arc that closed the gap to a single possession.

The Great Danes, who were playing their third consecutive opponent that made last year's NCAA Tournament field, drew even at 41 apiece on Ambrose's 17-foot jumper following a steal. McRae gave his squad its first lead of the period when he sank a jumper in the key midway through the period.

Ambrose made a pair of foul shots and then found Will Harris curling off a screen for a 47-43 lead. But American (0-2) responded when Simon McCormack, a 6-foot-4 sophomore who netted 10 points, made two free throws and nailed a 10-foot jumper from left of the lane. Ambrose, a 6-foot junior who had 14 points, put his team back in front, 49-47, with a left wing jumper. Freshman guard Daniel Munoz regained the lead on a conventional three-point play when he was fouled while making a driving bank shot with 2:25 remaining.

After McRae misfired on a left-baseline shot, Ambrose scored with the offensive rebound. After a series of events, UAlbany guard Mike Johnson, who was making his first appearance of the season, stole an errant pass in the lane with 11.4 seconds to play. Ambrose would miss the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity, but Munoz missed a runner in the lane as time expired.

"They are a tough team and they bothered us when they went to a small lineup," said UAlbany coach Will Brown, whose squad ended a seven-game road losing streak by holding the Eagles to 38.2-percent shooting. "We played some match-up zone that last eight to 10 minutes and than helped. We have a young group that keeps fighting. We have to take a deep breath because we won a tight game and didn't play well."

The opening 13 minutes of play produced six lead changes. The Eagles, who have won back-to-back Patriot League titles and lowered their championship banner in a pre-game ceremony, eventually caught fire by stringing together a 16-4 run that reversed a three-point deficit. Mike Bersch converted a fastbreak layup from a driving Steve Luptak that put his team ahead. Freshman guard Blake Jolivette, a first-team all-state high school player from Houston, Texas, then connected on a pair of three-point field goals, including one from right of the key for a 23-18 advantage.

Stephen Lumpkins, a 6-foot-8 sophomore who had 12 points and seven rebounds, later scored on a tip-in, before Munoz finished off a fastbreak for a 29-20 lead. The Great Danes came back with five straight points when Jake Lindfors drilled a long-range jumper from the left wing and Johnson connected off his steal. Lumpkins converted a left-handed spin move in the lane to answer that spurt.

"We were making extra passes and missing early layups, but we were able to pull it through," Ambrose explained. "They couldn't space us out in their zone in the second half like they did in the first. We always had someone there in a matchup. It's good to get our first road win."

Harris finished with nine points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes, who snapped American's 12-game win streak at Bender Arena, the 13th longest home win skein in the nation.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

UAlbany Volleyball's Brooke Stanley Interview

University of Albany Volleyball Completes Second Straight Undefeated Conference Season With Sweep of Hartford - UAlbany Sports 2009

Albany, N.Y. - Teresa Coppiellie recorded 12 kills with a .611 hitting percentage to lead UAlbany to a 3-0 sweep of Hartford in the America East Conference regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at University Gymnasium. With the win over the Hawks, the Great Danes complete their second straight undefeated conference season. UAlbany has not lost an America East match since 2007. The Great Danes, who honored seniors Hillary White, Valerie Sourbeer and Laura Livergood prior to the match, won in straight sets with scores of 25-12, 25-20 and 25-18.

UAlbany rolled in the first set, building up an early 7-2 lead on a kill by Coppiellie. Hartford's Lindsay Ford responded with a kill of her own, followed by a kill by Erin Macro to pull the Hawks within 7-4. A Hartford service error put the ball back in UAlbany's service, and the Great Danes went on to build up a quick 15-7 advantage on a kill by Sourbeer. The teams exchanged errors, before a block by Casey Wright and Kalyn Mostert put UAlbany up, 18-10, and gave the serve to Laurie Gonzalez, who served for three straight points. Coppiellie recorded a solo block and assisted on another block with White in that stretch. Coppiellie took an assist from Brooke Stanley on set point to seal the win for the Great Danes.

The second set went back and forth in the early going, with four ties before UAlbany got ahead, 8-4 with a Stanley kill. Hartford tied the match again at 11-11 on a kill by Macro, and the score was tied six more times before White served for three points to give the Great Danes a 20-17 advantage. Hartford pulled back within 21-20 on a UAlbany attack error, but a kill by Mostert gave the serve to Livergood, who was able to serve for the final three points, getting a kill from Wright to end the set.

UAlbany jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the final set, getting two blocks from Mostert and Wright early in play. The Great Danes got kills from Sourbeer and Coppiellie to continue to build a lead, but Hartford rallied back to 12-10 on a kill by Macro, who led the Hawks with nine kills in the match. Sarah Boss recorded a kill to tie the set at 13-13 and the teams exchanged kills until back-to-back Sourbeer kills put UAlbany up, 20-17. Livergood served for the final three points in the final set, capitalizing on a Coppiellie kill and two Hartford errors to complete the sweep.

Hartford (7-21, AE 0-10) was led defensively by Danielle Etta with 10 digs and Ford, who recorded 20 assists. The Hawks hit .047 as a team, recording just one block in the match. Maddison Molyneux finished with three service aces for the Hawks.

Sourbeer totaled nine kills for the Great Danes, while Stanley recorded 34 assists and nine digs. Gonzalez led the team with 16 digs, while Mostert finished with five total blocks. The Great Danes hit .353 as a team, producing seven total team blocks.

UAlbany (20-8, AE 10-0) will host the America East Conference Tournament next weekend as the top seed. Game times are set for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 with the championship match scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. The remaining three teams will be determined as the conference's regular season wraps up on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information