UMBC

Sophomore Hannah Schmidt

BALTIMORE – For the second season in a row, the UMBC volleyball hits the road looking to clinch a spot in the America East Championships in its final match of the regular season.  After defeating Providence in five sets last year, the Retrievers head to Long Island on Friday to take on Stony Brook at 3 p.m. at Pritchard Gymnasium.

Currently UMBC (14-14, 7-4 America East) is tied for the second spot in the conference standings with Binghamton (10-17, 7-4 AE), trailing only Albany (11-14, 8-2 AE).  The Great Danes can clinch the No. 1-seed and home court advantage by winning one match this weekend against either Providence or New Hampshire.  The Bearcats, along with New Hampshire (14-12, 6-4 AE) and Stony Brook (11-12, 6-4 AE) also play two contests this weekend.

With a win over the Seawolves, the Retrievers would clinch a spot in conference tournament for a school-record fifth straight time.  Next weekend’s tournament will be hosted by the regular season champion.

Scouting the Retrievers

UMBC swept its two matches last weekend at home, downing Albany in four sets on Friday evening before sweeping Hartford in straight sets during Senior Day on Sunday.  The win over the Great Danes was the program’s first since a five-set victory in 2007. 

Mallory McIntyre (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary’s Academy) was named the America East Setter of the Week this past Monday for her exploits against the Great Danes and Hawks.  The junior totaled 92 assists for the weekend, including a career-high 59 in the 3-1 win vs. Albany.  She also scooped up 15 digs against the Great Danes for her fourth double-double of the season.  This season, McIntyre has dished out 633 assists and currently holds a 9.74 assists per set average which ranks second in the conference.

Throughout the season, McIntyre has had several targets upon which she can rely.  Freshman Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) came back against Albany for her first action since early October, and put away 15 winners in the victory.  The two-time conference Rookie of the Week is fifth in the league in hitting percentage (.242) and sixth in kills (3.15 avg./set).  Fellow rookie Krystal Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) has also provided a consistent option and is just behind Walker with a .233 hitting efficiency.

The Retrievers have remained balanced most of the year, in large part due to sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales).  The outside hitter has notched a team-best 278 kills while picking up 277 digs, all the while compiling a team-best 11 double-doubles this season.

UMBC has received excellent back row support all season, led by libero Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) who leads the team with 370 digs.  For her career, Goc has picked up 993 digs, the tenth-highest total in school history.  Her 3.49 digs per set average leaves her in fifth in the conference, but she is not alone as senior Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) is tenth in the America East averaging 2.83 digs per set.

Scouting the Seawolves

Stony Brook swept its weekend matches last week, dropping only one set in victories over Providence and New Hampshire at home.  Following the wins, junior Evann Slaughter was named the America East Player of the Week while freshman Melissa Rigo was named the Rookie of the Week.

Slaughter led the league last weekend with a .447 hitting percentage and totaled 28 kills in the two wins.  Not to be outdone, Rigo finished with weekend with 31 put-aways and posted a double-double in each match.

For the season, Rigo leads the conference with a 4.36 kills per set average and has registered 388 kills.  Slaughter has also had a productive season and ranks fourth in hitting efficiency (.247) and ninth in kills (2.70 avg./set).  On the backline, junior Hailee Herc is seventh in the America East with a 3.3. digs per set average, helping the Seawolves hold opponents to a league-low .165 hitting percentage.

All-Time Series

UMBC defeated Stony Brook in straight sets earlier this season at the RAC Arena to snap a five-match losing streak to the Seawolves.  With the win, the Retrievers closed SBU’s lead in the all-time series to 11-9, with all but one meeting coming in conference play.  UMBC won the first meeting between the two schools, 2-1, at the 1980 George Washington Tournament.

Retriever Stat Pack

Season Highs:

Double-Doubles: