UMBC

Emily Vandegrift led UMBC with eight kills

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.