16 Leindecker Kills Leads UAlbany to Sweep UMass Lowell

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LOWELL, Mass. – The UAlbany volleyball team earned its first America East win of the year, sweeping UMass Lowell (25-21, 28-26, 25-19) on the road off Laini Leindecker's 16 kills.

“The team did a good job staying focused and adjusting to what UML did on the court,” said UAlbany coach MJ Engstrom. “We allowed them a big lead at the beginning of set two, but we showed maturity and patience and slowly made our way back and held on to win.”

Leindecker added 19 digs in UAlbany's (3-11, 1-1 AE) first three-set win of the season for her ninth double-double of the year, including both America East matches.  Amanda Dolan hit .333 with nine kills and five blocks, while Mikala McCauley tallied 34 assists, seven digs, three kills, two aces and three blocks.

For UMass Lowell (2-17, 0-2 AE), Ella Merrill got 11 kills and six digs, while Elima Ahzi had nine kills and four blocks.

Down 3-1 in the first set, a Sofia Furlong kill sparked a 5-0 run off Leindecker's serving to build a 6-3 lead for UAlbany.  Back and forth that teams went until UML pulled within one at 11-10.  UAlbany struck back with three-consecutive kills (Leindecker, Dolan, Leindecker) to go up four 14-10.  The home team won 10 of the next 13 points to get a 20-17 lead.  After a Masha Yelsukova attack error, Lauren Spreen went back to serve, taking the team through a 5-0 run, capped on a Tatum Jungsten-McCauley combo block, to put the visitors back in front 22-20.  Anisa Smith got a kill to make it 22-21.  UAlbany finished the game with a Jungsten kill, Leindecker kill and Jungsten ace to win 25-21.

UML quickly built an 8-2 advantage to begin the second set.  After Olivia Schonewise notched a kill, Emily Lopes served UAlbany through a 4-0 run, assisted by two McCauley kills, to make it 8-4.  At 10-7, another 4-0 run, capped by a Jungsten ace, gave UAlbany an 11-10 lead.  Later, UML built a small lead on three kills in a row to go up 16-14.  Back-and-forth the teams went until at 20-18, Leindecker earned a kill, then two blocks and a Schonewise kill put UAlbany back in front 22-20.  UAlbany got set point at 24-22, but UML protected with two Merrill kills, adding a UA attack error to get a set point chance itself.  An attack error gave UA a point, and a Spreen kill put UAlbany back in the lead.  After an exchange, a Yelsukova attack error gave the set to UAlbany 28-26 for a 2-0 lead.

At 5-3 in the third game, UAlbany earned a trio of runs, a 3-0 off Lopes's serving, a 4-0 off Spreen's serving and another 3-0 off Jungsten's serving, to go up 13-7.  Following UML getting two points, a pair of Dolan blocks, two McCauley aces and a Dolan kill made up a run of five as the Great Danes lead 18-9.  UML got a couple of late 3-0 runs, but UAlbany did not relingquish the lead and won 25-19 to finish the match in three sets.

UAlbany remains on the road this weekend, taking on reigning conference champion New Hampshire on Sunday at 1 p.m.