Box Score Scores: UAlbany 3, Hartford 2 (25-16, 21-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-12)
Location: University Gym in Albany, N.Y.
Records: UAlbany (16-10), Hartford (16-13)
Short Story: The University at Albany volleyball team won its first America East volleyball championship since 2011, beating Hartford in a five-set thriller.
Coach Pickard: “Excited for our team and staff today. Hartford played well and it took our total team effort to be able to beat them. It was great to see Akua, Danielle and Charlotte recognized for the hard work they have put in all year. We talked all year about all 19 of us working towards a common goal and it all came together tonight.”
Chloe Evering: “I can't even put into words how excited and proud I am of every single one of my teammates for bringing their best energy and effort tonight. Every person on this team contributed to this win tonight and I'm incredibly happy to have finally gotten it done after four years. The energy tonight was insane and I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls to spend my last season with.”
Akuabata Okenwa: “I'm beyond proud of my team. Throughout the season, each day we stepped foot on the court we got better. Our team chemistry is incredible, there's so much trust on the court. We play for each other and bring our full energy on the court every game. GO DANES!”
By the numbers vs. Hartford
Notes
- Okenwa was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
- Tedesco, Okenwa and Macken earned All-Championship Team honors.
- Evering received the Elite 18 Award. The senior boasts a 3.99 GPA in Biology.
- The Great Danes won their seventh America East Championship title, and first since 2011.
Next
The team clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament and will find out their next opponent on the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, December 1st at 8:30 pm. The show will be on ESPNU.
