UAlbany Volleyball Takes Down First Place Stony Brook in Four

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

ALBANY, N.Y. – Facing the lone undefeated squad left in conference play, the UAlbany volleyball team came back to defeat in-state rival Stony Brook in four (17-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-9) on Friday night.

“It was a nail-biter the first three sets, and we told the team to be patient,” said UAlbany coach MJ Engstrom.  “They settled down, served aggressively and pulled Stony Brook out of rhythm.”

Amy Hunter led UAlbany (5-11, 3-1 AE), hitting .225 with 15 kills and four total blocks.  Amanda Dolan hit .385 with 12 kills, just two attack errors, and eight blocks, while Laini Leindecker earned another double-double with 15 kills and 16 digs.

“I feel the hard work in practice paid off for all of us,” said Hunter. “We played as a team and as one, and we were outstanding.”

“Amy [Hunter] had one of her best matches, and we moved Amanda [Dolan] back to middle, where she is comfortable, and Laini [Leindecker] had some key kills down the stretch.  I am proud of them, the team did a great job tonight.”

For Stony Brook (11-8, 2-1 AE), Kathy Fletcher had 18 kills, 12 digs and seven blocks.  Melissa Rigo finished with nine kills and 15 digs, while Evann Slaughter notched seven kills and 10 blocks.

An early 3-0 run put UAlbany in front 4-1 in the first set.  At 4-3, a Dolan kill sparked a 4-0 run off Viktoriia Stroilo's serving to make it 8-3.  Stony Brook countered off Melann Amory's serving to get eight-consecutive to put the visitors up 11-8.  A Hunter kill and Emily Lopes ace stopped the run and pulled UAlbany within one.  Following a couple of exchanges, a SB service error and attack error tied the set at 13-13.  Two Slaughter blocks, a Nicole Vogel ace and UAlbany attack error put SB's lead to 17-13.  UAlbany could not get back as a late 4-0 SB run helped the Seawolves win the set 25-17.

Into the second set, Stroilo served UAlbany through another 4-0 run to make it 5-3.  After a SB point, two Hunter kills and a Lopes ace made it 8-4, then the process repeated as Lauren Spreen served UAlbany through a 3-0 run, capped by two Leindecker kills, for an 11-5 lead.  UAlbany later led 15-7, and after two SB kills, Leindecker on the serve pushed UA through four-in-a-row to go up 19-9.  At 23-14, the serving of Dani Nizich, helped by two kills and three blocks each from Slaughter and Fletcher, sent SB on an 8-0 run to pull the Seawolves within one.  A Leindecker kill set up game point, but a Vogel kill and Fletcher block tied the set at 24.  Dolan notched a kill to get another set point opportunity.  The UAlbany back row let a Fletcher attack go out-of-bounds to give the set to the Great Danes 26-24 and tie the match.

Kills by Dolan and Leindecker gave UAlbany an early lead, and another pair of points of kills from Hunter and Tatum Jungsten made the score 6-3 UAlbany.  At 7-4, Stony Brook got the next four to take the lead.  Jungsten earned a kill and went back to serve, taking UAlbany through a 4-0 run to make it 12-8 UAlbany.  SB tied it back up at 12-12.  At 13-13, a Leindecker kill and Dolan-Hunter combo block pushed UAlbany in front 15-13.  The sides exchanged until two SB points made the score 17-17.  A Jungsten kill and Leindecker put the Danes back in the lead 20-18.  UAlbany did not lose back-to-back points again in the game, using a couple of pairs of points, including a late ace and kill from Mikala McCauley, to take the set 25-21 and go ahead 2-1 in the match.

At 1-1 in the fourth set, Dolan notched a kill and two blocks in a row to start a run.  Leindecker added an ace, then Dolan and Hunter each got kills to make it 7-1 UAlbany.  At 8-3, Lopes served UAlbany through five-straight points, capped by two Hunter kills, for a 13-3 UAlbany lead.  Stony Brook got four of the next five points, not getting back-to-back points again.  With UAlbany up 16-8, McCauley, aided by two kills each from Dolan and Leindecker, served the home team through a 5-0 run.  The Great Danes won the final three points to take the set 25-9 and win the match in four.

UAlbany will take on another team in red, Hartford, on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the University Gym.