SCORE: UMBC 3, UAlbany 2 (20-25, 18-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-10)
 
LOCATION: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena - Baltimore, MD
 
RECORD: UAlbany 5-11, 0-3 AE | UMBC 4-10, 3-0 AE
 
SHORT STORY: In a thrilling five-set battle, UAlbany surged ahead early but UMBC mounted a late comeback to steal a dramatic 3-2 victory.
 
COACH JOSH PICKARD: "Great start by the team today, unfortunately we weren't able to sustain our pressure. We played pretty flawless volleyball in the first two sets and that's something the team hasn't done this year. We will be back in the gym this week trying to sustain the pressure we put on other teams."
 
KEY STATS

• Redshirt-junior Shynelle Woroniuk led the Great Danes with 19 kills.
• Freshman Maria Olga Siapani had her eighth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 14 digs.
• UAlbany had three defenders with double-digit digs in redshirt-sophomore Brooke Malek (16), Siapani (14), and freshman Kasia Barletta (12).
• Redshirt-sophomore Gabriella Karman led both teams with nine total blocks. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UAlbany got off to a hot start and took control of set one by leading 14-8 after strong defensive plays and kills from outside hitter Shynelle Woroniuk and opposite hitter Kendall Harris.
• UMBC tried to get back in the set but thanks to blocks from middle blocker Tori Wilson and a key service ace by setter Maria Olga Siapani the Great Danes closed out set one, 25-20.
• A back-and-forth set two saw the Retrievers start out on top with a four-point lead.
• The Purple and Gold responded with an 8-2 scoring run to take back the advantage.
• UAlbany finished strong with Woroniuk delivering a kill to close out the set, 25-23.
• Going into set three, the Great Danes had only made one hitting error and had an impressive .382 team-hitting percentage.
• UMBC responded quickly with a dominant set-three performance, jumping to an early lead at 11-4.
• UAlbany tried to answer with two scoring runs but couldn't close the gap and the Retrievers claimed the set, 25-16.
• UMBC continued with their momentum in set four and took an 8-3 lead. 
• The Great Danes rallied back to be within two points thanks to kills by Harris and Woroniuk.
• The Retrievers maintained control and won the set 25-23 and forced a deciding fifth set.
• The final set was a nail-biter with both teams exchanging points to start set five.
• A five-point scoring run put UMBC at a seven-point advantage. UAlbany tried to respond with three points of their own but the Retrievers closed out the set, 15-10. This ended the match, 3-2.

NEXT: The Great Danes will head to Newark, NJ for a match against NJIT on Friday, October 11.
 
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