MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. -- Dunja Prgomet recorded her second straight double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs while Traci Vandegrift recorded a career-high 28 digs to lead UAlbany to a 3-2 victory over Long Island on the second day of the Diet Coke Classic at the Sports Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. The Great Danes posted set scores of 17-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-25 and 15-10 in the victory.
Later in the day, UAlbany dropped a three-set match to #16 Minnesota in the tournament finale, which was hosted by the Gophers. Minnesota swept the Great Danes with set scores of 25-13, 25-16 and 25-12 to remain undefeated on the season.
Along with Prgomet and Vandegrift against the Blackbirds of LIU, the Great Danes got stellar performances from Sara Pope and Viktoriia Stroilo. Pope totaled 12 kills to go along with four digs and three total blocks while Stroilo came up with 17 digs in the libero position. Gabby Whitworth also recorded 11 kills and four blocks while setter Sofia Furlong totaled 48 assists, six digs and five block assists. The Great Danes out-blocked Long Island 10-7, and recorded nine service aces, led by Prgomet with four.
Long Island (2-3) was led by Annika Foit, who finished with 25 kills on .434 hitting in the match. Foit also added 19 digs. Setter Vera Djuric also recorded a double-double with 43 assists and 12 digs along with thre block assists.
Against the host Gophers, who were the third nationally ranked opponent UAlbany has faced in its first six matches of the season, the Great Danes were led by Pope and Whitworth with five kills apiece. Stroilo came up with 10 digs in the match, while Furlong had 11 assists, three kills and one block assist. Vandegrift managed four kills and four digs, along with four service aces and three total blocks.
Minnesota (5-0) got 13 kills from Tori Dixon, and 10 kills from Katherine Harms. Setters Alexandra Palmer and Mia Tabberson split duties, recording 18 and 19 assists, respectively. Ashley Wittman led the Gophers defensively with 11 digs, to go along with nine kills on .500 hitting, and two block assists. Minnesota recorded 8.5 blocks as a team and held UAlbany to .073 hitting, while swinging at a .420 clip as a team.
UAlbany (2-4) will return to action next weekend at the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State. The Great Danes will take on the host Spartans, Georgia and IPFW.
