LOCATION: UConn Volleyball Center - Storrs, Conn.
 
SHORT STORY: The Great Danes fought to the end in a griping five-set battle against the undefeated Huskies.
 
COACH JOSH PICKARD: "There were a lot of ups and downs today. There are parts of our game that are really clicking and others that need work. I'm really proud of how the team finished tonight. It would have been easy to come out flat in the last match but we really battled. The team worked hard for the person next to them and we saw some great play"
 
GAME ONE
 
SCORE: Delaware State 3, UAlbany 1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 25-15)
 
RECORD: UAlbany 3-5, 0-0 AE | Delaware State 2-6, 0-0 MEAC
 
KEY STATS

• Redshirt-junior Shynelle Woroniuk led UAlbany with 14 kills.
• Freshman setter Maria Olga Siapani had a match-high with 34 assists.
• Leading the Great Danes' defense was redshirt-sophomore Brooke Malek with 17 blocks.
• Redshirt-sophomore Gabriella Karman contributed to UAlbany's defensive efforts with five blocks.
• Freshman Kasia Barletta and Karman each had three service aces.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UAlbany started strong in the first set by taking an 11-7 lead thanks to two different scoring runs. 
• Delaware St. attempted a comeback and close the gap to 20-19 after three scoring runs of their own.
• The Hornets took advantage of their momentum and secured the first set, 25-23.
• The Great Danes took control in the second set and jumped out to a 15-7 lead.
• UAlbany was a killing machine with four different players credited for a kill to extend their lead to 21-14.
• The Great Danes capitalized on a scoring run and finished the set dominantly, 25-16.
• UAlbany had another strong start in the third set after taking a five-point lead but faced challenges as Delaware St. went on three scoring runs.
• The Hornets tied it up at 20 and went on to win the set, 25-23, after another four-point scoring run.
• Delaware St. garnered a 6-2 lead in the fourth set after a five-point scoring run.
• The Hornets held onto their lead through the entire set despite a fighting effort from the Great Danes. Delaware St. finished the set, 25-15, which ended the match, 3-1. 

 
GAME TWO
 
SCORE: UConn 3, UAlbany 2 (25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 15-13)
 
RECORD: UAlbany 3-6, 0-0 AE | UConn 8-0, 0-0 Big East
 
KEY STATS

• Shynelle Woroniuk had a match-high with 21 kills.
• Graduate student Elisavet Papageorgiou contributed greatly with 14 kills and nine digs.
• Setter Maria Olga Saipani led the Great Danes with a personal-best 50 assists and contributed to the defense with 14 digs and four blocks.
• Brooke Malek led the Great Danes with 27 digs 
• Gabriella Karman contributed on both ends with seven kills and four blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Great Danes started the first set with tons of energy to take a four-point lead until the Huskies went on a four-point run to tie it at 12.
• After another scoring run by UConn, UAlbany trailed, 17-15. 
• The Great Danes kept the set close with a consistent offensive effort but UConn took the first set, 25-20.
• UConn came out hot in the second set taking a three-point lead but a 5-1 scoring run by UAlbany put the Great Danes back on top, 9-8.
• The Huskies regained their lead after a four-point scoring run but the Great Danes still had some fight left in them.
• UAlbany tied the set 23-23 after going back and forth but UConn won the second set, 25-23.
• The Great Danes refused to give up heading into the third set after taking a 3-0 lead.
• UConn and UAlbany exchanged points as they battled but a three-point scoring run by the Great Danes gave them a five-point advantage.
• The Huskies tried to fight back with a three-point scoring run to tie it at 23 but UAlbany closed out strong, 25-23.
• After forcing a fourth set, the Great Danes took the initiative and gained a 4-0 lead.
• UAlbany never allowed UConn to gain a lead and a three-point scoring run gave the Great Danes a five-point advantage.
• The Great Danes fought hard and denied the Huskies a chance to score more than two points in a row to solidify a set four victory, 25-21.
• UAlbany kept their momentum in the nail-biting fifth set to take a 3-0 lead.
• UConn responded with a three-point scoring run of their own to tie it at three but the Great Danes were going down without a fight.
• UAlbany gained a two-point advantage after two more scoring runs but the Huskies took back the lead after their own scoring run.
• UConn held onto their lead and finished the set, 15-13, taking the match, 3-2.

 
NEXT: The Great Danes head across the country next weekend to compete in the UniWyo Invite (Sept. 20-21). UAlbany will face Utah, Wyoming, and Coppin State to complete their pre-conference play.
 
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