UMBC

Junior Ali Loynachan

BALTIMORE—In a very tight four-set encounter, the UMBC volleyball team improved to 7-3 on the season with a 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17 win over Youngstown State Friday evening as part of the Madison Bingaman Memorial Tournament at the RAC.

“This was not the prettiest match for us, but it was good to grind out a victory,” head coach Ian Blanchard said. “We executed when we needed to and found a way to win a tough ballgame tonight.”

Junior Ali Loynachan (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada/Sinclair) led the Retrievers, hitting .421 with 10 kills, while sophomore Hallie Carter (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) hit .314 with 13 kills, while adding 15 digs.

With the first three sets being decided by just seven points, the Retrievers took control of the fourth set, earning a sideout at a 76 percent clip, while holding the Penguins (0-9) to a .100 hitting percentage in the frame.

Freshman Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) led the squad with 15 kills, while sophomore Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada/R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate) and freshman Dalton Tolliver (Ortonville, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) led the Dawgs with 18 digs and eight blocks, respectively.

“Ali was outstanding in serve receive and in defense for us, while Dalton provided a big boost in the middle when we brought her in,” Blanchard said.

Senior Allie Spaay (Kenosha, Wis./Kenosha Tremper) dished out a season-high 45 assists.

Missy Hundelt led the Penguins with 15 kills.

The Retrievers return to action Saturday when they face Fairleigh Dickinson at 1 p.m. and Norfolk State at 7 in the final day of the Madison Bingaman Memorial Tournament.