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.

-agate-

2009 America East Conference Volleyball Tournament

#1 UAlbany (21-8) def. #4 UMBC (13-13), 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-11)