Albany, N.Y. ? Senior Kamisha Kellam was named the most outstanding player in leading the UAlbany volleyball squad to a 3-0 victory over Binghamton to claim its third consecutive America East Conference title. UAlbany (22-8) clinched an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament and will learn of its first-round opponent during the NCAA selection show to be aired on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Great Danes, who won their fourth conference championship in the last five years, captured the first two sets by scores of 25-13 and 25-19, trailing only once at the start of the second set. Sophomore Amanda Cowdrey and senior Hillary White each recorded seven kills over the first two sets to put UAlbany ahead.

Binghamton (16-15) opened up a five-point lead in the third set and were leading 13-8 before UAlbany went on a 12-2 scoring run to take back a five-point advantage. The Great Danes, who entered the conference as the number one seed, closed out the match with a score of 25-18 on a powerful kill by Kellam, who finished the day with a team-best 10 kills.

“There was probably not a better way to end,” said UAlbany interim head coach MJ Engstrom of Kellam's role in clinching the match. “Kamisha has had an outstanding career and has brought the team along. We'll certainly miss her.”

Kellam, who also garnered the America East Conference Volleyball Player of the Year award, wasn't worried when Binghamton held the advantage in the third match. “We've been down before,” she explained. “You just have to chip away and take one point at a time.”

Kellam, along with teammates Cowdrey and sophomore setter Brooke Stanley, who finished with five kills and 28 assists, were named to the all-tournament team. Cowdrey, who finished with nine kills and two blocks, noted of her team's win that “we did expect this. All the hard work we put in makes it feel like it's all worth it.”

The Bearcats were led by Michelle McDonough and Anna Lejina, who finished with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Both members of the squad were named to the all-tournament team.

The Great Danes, who have now won 16 straight matches, the program's second-best Division I mark. The team will meet Temple in a non-conference match on Saturday, November 29 before finding out their NCAA Tournament opponent.