Freshman Brooke Stanley recorded 50 assists, 16 digs and four total blocks to lead UAlbany to a 3-1 win over Long Island University at the VCU/Third Degree Sportswear Thanksgiving Volleyball Invitational at Alltel Pavilion on Saturday, Nov. 24. The Great Danes won both tournament games, after defeating the host Rams in the opening round on Friday, to conclude their regular season.
UAlbany (23-9) took the first game by a 30-27 edge, but fell in game two, 30-18. The Great Danes rebounded to take the third game by a 30-22 score behind a .385 hitting percentage and clinched the victory on an assisted block by senior Ashley Crenshaw and sophomore Kate Eckhardt off a Martina Wagner attack to earn game four by a 32-30 score.
Freshman Amanda Cowdrey led the UAlbany attack, recording a team-high 19 kills and adding 19 digs. Eckhardt finished with a double-double of the kill-dig variety for the Great Danes, with 11 kills and 13 digs. Junior Kamisha Kellam added 13 kills and six total blocks, while Crenshaw had 13 kills and two blocks. Freshman Teresa Coppiellie had 15 digs and freshman libero Tawny Dahmes had 12 digs.
The Blackbirds were led by Shelby Heggie, who had a match-high 22 kills and added eight digs and two total blocks. Wagner finished with a 17-kill, 15-dig double-double, while Svetlana Simic had a match-high 21 digs.
The Great Danes, winners of eight of their last nine matches, will continue on to NCAA tournament play. UAlbany earned an automatic berth after winning its third America East Conference Championship in the last four years. Long Island (22-13) stamped its ticket to the NCAAs after winning the Northeast Conference title last weekend.
UAlbany and LIU will learn of their seed and opponent during the NCAA Division I Selection Show on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. The Great Danes will gather in the SEFCU Hall of Fame Room to watch the bracket's unveiling on ESPNU.
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VCU/Third Degree Sportswear Thanksgiving Classic
UAlbany (23-9) def. Long Island (22-13), 3-1 (30-27, 18-30, 30-22, 32-30).
