Durham, N.H. - Amy Keding recorded a match-high 21 kills to lead New Hampshire to a 3-0 sweep of UAlbany in America East Conference volleyball action on Sunday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium. The Wildcats, who are now tied with the Great Danes atop the league standings, handed UAlbany its first conference loss with set scores of 30-28, 25-21 and 25-19.

                Keding recorded nine kills in the first set to lead New Hampshire to the extra-point win. The teams played a close set throughout, with 13 ties. The Wildcats could not put UAlbany away in regulation points, as the Great Danes rallied several times from up to four points down. New Hampshire got to set point at 24-21 on a kill by Jessy Dick, but UAlbany came back with a kill by Traci Vandegrift followed by two blocks involving Casey Wright. The senior teamed up with Dunja Prgomet to stop an attack by Morgan Thatcher and combined with Vandegrift to block a Lauren Laquerre attempt. Wright then gave the Great Danes set point with a kill, but New Hampshire responded with Laquerre for the ninth tie of the set. The teams exchanged points before Keding gave the Wildcats set point again, before Destiny Tolliver served up an ace to end the set.

                New Hampshire jumped out to an early 9-4 lead on a kill by Laquerre, but Abbey Wexel served for three straight points, including a service ace, to pull UAlbany within 11-8. However, a block by Thatcher and Dick put New Hampshire back on top, 15-10, and Jansan Falcusan served for two more points to build the Wildcats a seven-point advantage. UAlbany attempted to rally, getting within 20-18 on a kill by Brooke Stanley, but New Hampshire was able to get to set point on a kill by Dick. Samantha Brostrom connected on one of her three kills to extend the match a point, but Keding tallied one of her team-high six kills in the set to end play.

                The teams played a close start to the third set, as UAlbany looked to post a come-from-behind win. With the match tied at 11-11, New Hampshire scored three straight points to take a 14-11 lead on kills by Keding, Dick and Lauerre before Prgomet ended the rally. The Great Danes were unable to recover, however, as the Wildcats built up a 20-15 advantage on one of Laquerre's 15 total kills. UAlbany pulled back to within three points at 21-19 on a kill by Prgomet, but Keding and Thatcher combined for the next three points to get New Hampshire to set point. A UAlbany attack error ended the match with the Wildcat sweep.

                Wright finished with a team-high 16 kills for UAlbany, while Vandegrift added 10. Stanley recorded a double-double of 34 assists and 11 digs. Libero Laurie Gonzalez came up with a match-high 26 digs, while Wexel and Prgomet added 13 and 10, respectively.

                Falcusan, the Wildcats' setter, also finished with a double-double of 39 assists and 16 digs, while both Keding and Laquerre recorded double-doubles of the kill-dig variety. Keding added 19 digs to her stats totals, while Laquerre finished with 11 digs defensively. Sam Henke also added 17 digs for New Hampshire (6-16, AE 5-1).

                UAlbany (11-8, AE 5-1) will return to action on Wednesday, visiting Colgate for a non-conference match at 7 p.m.

-agate-

New Hampshire (6-16, AE 5-1) def. UAlbany (11-8, AE 5-1), 3-0 (30-28, 25-21, 25-19)

New Hampshire 3, UAlbany 0 (Oct 16, 2011)