Baltimore, Md. - Samantha Brostrom recorded a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs to lead UAlbany to a 3-2 win over UMBC in America East Conference volleyball action on Sunday afternoon at RAC Arena. UMBC won the first two sets with identical scores of 25-18, before UAlbany won three straight with scores of 25-19, 25-16 and 16-14 to win the match.

            UMBC built up an early 5-3 lead on a kill by Emily Vandegrift, and extended that advantage to 11-6, getting a kill by Katie Kelly, followed by a UAlbany attack error. After taking a timeout, UAlbany attempted to regroup, as Brostrom recorded a kill. The Great Danes pulled within 11-9 on a Retriever attack error followed by a block by Traci Vandegrift and Brostrom. However, UMBC would continue to roll, getting a solo block by Dalton Tolliver to pull ahead by five, 15-10. Brostrom then served for three straight points to pull the Great Danes to 17-13, but back-to-back block assists by the Retrievers would pull UMBC ahead to 22-17. Ali Loynachan gave UMBC set point with a kill, and Emily Vandegrift ended the first set in the Retrievers' favor.

            The teams played a closer second set, tying the match twice before UMBC took control. After a kill by Dunja Prgomet set the score at 10-10, the Retrievers pulled ahead, 16-11, getting kills from Loynachan and Emily Vandegrift, while also taking advantage of three UAlbany errors. The Great Danes regrouped and pulled within two points, 16-14, on a Prgomet kill, but an attack error on the next play gave UMBC serve. Hannah Schmidt nailed three straight kills to put the Retrievers up by six, 20-14. A service error pulled UAlbany back within five, but Schmidt responded with another kill to hold off any Great Dane rally. Schmidt gave UMBC set point with an assist from Alexandria Spaay, but Gabby Whitworth recorded a kill of her own to extend the set. An attack error by the Retrievers pulled the Great Danes to within 24-18, but Loynachan smacked a kill to end the set.

            After the break, UAlbany came out firing in the third set, pulling out to a 10-7 lead on a kill by Casey Wright, forcing UMBC to take a timeout. The Retrievers regrouped and Loynachan ended the Great Danes' rally, but Wright teamed up with Traci Vandegrift on the next play on a block to continue the team momentum. After a kill by Brostrom to pull UAlbany ahead, 18-14, she then served for three straight points, including a service ace, to extend the lead to 21-14. A kill by Prgomet gave UAlbany set point, which was ended on the next play on a Wright kill.

            The Great Danes continued their momentum into the fourth, building up a 9-5 lead on a Brostrom kill. UMBC rallied back to tie the match at 11-11 with a block by Tolliver and Schmidt, but UAlbany rebounded, pulling ahead, 16-14 on a kill by Whitworth. Brooke Stanley took over the service game and served for six straight points to take a 22-14 lead. Traci Vandegrift avoided a block by Tolliver to get UAlbany to set point, and Laurie Gonzalez served up an ace to tie the match at 2-2.

            Neither team would go down without a fight, as the final set was tied four times in the early going. Traci Vandegrift recorded a kill to tie the set at 9-9, then teamed up with Whitworth for a block to take the lead. Prgomet recorded consecutive kills to take a 12-9 lead, but UMBC rallied, getting back-to-back kills from Emily Vandegrift to tie the match for the fifth time at 13-13 and then take a one-point lead. After a Great Dane timeout, Stanley tied the set at 14-14. UAlbany moved to set point on a Retriever attack error, and ended the match on a block by Wright and Stanley to remain one of two undefeated teams in conference play.

            Wright finished with 13 kills and four block assists for the Great Danes, while Traci Vandegrift added 11 kills on team-high .333 hitting and seven block assists. Prgomet added eight kills and was second on the team with 14 digs, while Gonzalez recorded a match-high 25 digs. Stanley played a strong all-around match, totaling 47 assists, eight digs, six kills and one block.

            UMBC (11-7, AE 1-2) was led by Emily Vandegrift with 16 kills, while Loynachan recorded a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs. Tolliver added 12 kills, while Spaay added a double-double of 50 assists and 12 digs. Ali Goc totaled 14 digs, and Kat Lincalis reached double-digit dig figures with 10 on the defensive side. Schmidt also finished with 10 kills for the Retrievers.

            UAlbany (9-7, AE 3-0) will return to action on Friday, hosting Providence in America East play at 7 p.m.

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UAlbany (9-7, AE 3-0) def. UMBC (11-7, AE 1-2), 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-16, 16-14)

UAlbany 3, UMBC 2 (Oct 02, 2011)