Stony Brook, N.Y. – The UMBC volleyball team (17-11, 12-0 America East) completed an undefeated America East Conference season by blanking Stony Brook (13-13, 7-5 AE), 3-0, at Prichard Gym.

The Retrievers triumphed 25-21, 25-18, 25-22 and recorded the sixth perfect record in league history.

The 2021 UMBC program also etched its name in school history, posting the fourth undefeated record in NCAA Division I conference play. The Retrievers registered marks of 8-0 in 1994 (Big South) and 1998 (Northeast Conference) and a 9-0 record in the 2000 NEC campaign.  

UMBC freshman Mia Bilusic (Zagreb, Croatia) led the way with 13 kills, while graduate student Grace Rigsbee (Suwanee, Ga.) added 11 and hit .250. Four Retrievers added double-digit dig totals, led by graduate student Loren Teter (Redondo Beach, Calif.), who amassed 20.

The Retrievers came up with 73 digs, compared to 58 for the Seawolves.  

UMBC has earned the top seed in this week's America East Tournament, which will be played at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The Retrievers will play the first semi-final match on Friday, Nov. 19 at 4:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED
·       With the score knotted at 17-all, UMBC outscored SBU, 8-4, to capture the first set, 25-21. Bilusic recorded four of her set-high six kills in that game-ending run.
·       The Retrievers hit .258 in the second set, led by Rigsbee's six kills. UMBC finished the set on an 8-3 run, as Rigsbee contributed three put-aways in that span.
·       UMBC jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the third set, but SBU clawed all the way back to tie the set at 18-all. But the Retrievers scored the next three points and Rigsbee finished the match with her tenth and 11th kills.  

NOTABLE
·       UMBC won 18 sets and only dropped three in six road conference victories.