LOCATION: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena - Baltimore, Md.

SCORE: UAlbany 3, Bryant 0 (29-27, 25-22, 25-18)

RECORD: UAlbany 14-11, 6-4 America East | Bryant 17-12, 7-3 America East

SHORT STORY: UAlbany delivered one of its strongest performances of the season, sweeping Bryant in the America East Semifinal on Friday evening to advance to the conference championship match.

COACH JOSH PICKARD: "Fantastic effort by the team tonight. We had great defensive effort and really put a lot of pressure on our opponents. Kudos to our middles and passers for really stepping up."

KEY STATS

• Redshirt-junior middle blocker Gabriella Karman led UAlbany with 9 kills, hitting .500, and totaled 4 blocks.

• Graduate outside hitter Shynelle Woroniuk recorded 10 kills, 7 digs, and 1 block.

• Senior middle blocker Tori Wilson posted 10 kills on .421 hitting with 2 blocks.

• Senior outside hitter Anna Myhal added 5 kills, 11 digs, and 3 aces.

• Sophomore setter Maria Olga Siapani tallied 30 assists, 10 digs, 2 aces, and 3 blocks.

• Sophomore defensive specialist Kasia Barletta finished with 6 digs and steady serve-receive passing.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UAlbany built early momentum with kills from Tori Wilson and Gabriella Karman while controlling the first half of the set.

• Bryant tied the score late, but UAlbany held off two set points with steady sideouts.

• Anna Myhal delivered a key kill and Maria Olga Siapani and Karman combined for a block to close the set 29-27.

• UAlbany opened strong with kills from Shynelle Woroniuk and Wilson to take a three-point lead.

• Bryant surged ahead but UAlbany answered as Myhal produced a serving run that regained the lead.

• Karman scored a late kill and the Great Danes controlled the final points to win 25-22.

• The set stayed close until UAlbany broke a nine-all tie with a 4-0 scoring run behind Kasia Barletta's serve.

• Karman continued her efficient night with several middle kills that pushed the lead open.

• Woroniuk and Wilson added final swings to finish the sweep 25 to 18.

NEXT: UAlbany advances to the America East Championship and will face the host, UMBC, on Saturday, November 22, at 4:00 PM.

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