ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior Allie
Spaay (Kenosha, Wis./Kenosha Tremper) recorded her 12th
double-double of the season registering 25 assists and picking up
12 digs, but it wasn't enough as the UMBC volleyball team was swept
on the road by Albany 3-0 at the University Gymnasium.
With the loss, UMBC (12-11, 2-6 America East) fell one game
behind both Hartford and Binghamton for the fourth and final spot
in the conference tournament. All three teams have four
conference games remaining and all three play each other in that
span.
The Retrievers had a promising start to the contest taking 9-3
lead over America East leading Albany (14-8, 7-1 America East) in
the first set with junior Ali
Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario, Canada/Sinclair) picking up
two early kills. After a timeout though, the Great Danes
went on a decisive 10-2 run and never looked back, taking the first
set 25-21.
After trading points to start the second set, Albany took the
initiative building an 11-7 lead early on. The
Retrievers then made the comeback pulling to 16-15, but couldn't
get any closer, falling 25-21 again.
In the third set, the Great Danes took the advantage and
efficiently finished off the match with a 25-15 third set
win. Albany outhit the Retrievers .424-.081 in the final
set and .252-.126 for the contest.
Albany's attack was led by Casey Wright who finished
with 16 kills and Brooke Stanley who recorded 34 assists
on the night.
For the Retrievers sophomore Emily
Vandegrift (Leesburg, Va./Loudoun County) led the way with
eight kills while both Spaay and Ali
Goc (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada/R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate)
finished in double-digit digs with 12 and 13 respectively.
UMBC now heads to Binghamton to take on the Bearcats in a
pivatol end of the season match beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday at
West Gym.