UMBC vs UAlbany Match Notes

The UMBC Volleyball Team returns to Baltimore to host 2018 America East finalist UAlbany in the conference opener for both teams. The match will be a Black & Gold Friday Match, meaning the team will wear black and fans are encouraged to wear gold, with the first 150 fans receiving a free t-shirt, to show their UMBC pride. 

Freshman Niki Khoshatefeh (Temecula, Calif.) was named to the All-Tournament Team, and classmate Riley Putnicki (Monument, Colo.) shined in the first two starts of her career as the UMBC Volleyball team closed out play in the Colorado Classic on Saturday. 

The Retrievers battled (RV) Colorado (8-2) but fell in three sets (25-23, 25-7, 25-18), before dropping a four-setter to Oakland (25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-15).

Against Oakland (6-5), Khoshatefeh was a force in the middle, picking up nine kills, four blocks and a career-high five digs. Putnicki ran the offense efficiently, finishing with 29 assists and a career-high three kils., She also had a banner day defensively, finishing with career-highs in blocks (four) and digs (10), for her first collegiate double-double. 

Elayna Williams (Ellicott City, Md.) started both matches, her first two starts of the season, and combined for 20 digs, including a career-high 12 against Oakland. Carmen Freeman (Memphis, Tenn.) led UMBC (3-9) with 10 kills against OU and 14 digs against Colorado.

Scouting UAlbany

The Great Danes enter conference play at 4-9 having won their final two games of a tournament at Rhode Island last Saturday. UAlbany swept Bryant before rallying for a five set win over ACC foe Boston College.  

Redshirt senior Akuabata Okenwa earned weekly conference honors was named America East Co-Player of the Week. Okenwa notched 16 kills and hit .500 against Bryant along with had 20 kills and hit .283 against Boston College. The redshirt senior also tallied 10 blocks, and was named to the All-Tournament Team. It was her second conference honor  of the season.

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