UMBC

Mallory McIntyre has two double-doubles this season

BALTIMORE – After a brief two-match home stand, the UMBC volleyball team heads back out on the road this weekend to take on America East rivals Hartford and Albany.  The Retrievers will face the Hawks on Friday at 6 p.m. before heading across the Hudson to take on reigning league champion Albany on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Scouting the Retrievers

UMBC (8-12, 1-2 America East) split its two matches at home last weekend, falling to New Hampshire in five sets, 3-2, on Friday, before rallying on Sunday to defeat Providence in four sets after dropping the opening frame.  Outside hitter Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) totaled 39 kills with a .419 hitting efficiency over the weekend and was named the America East Rookie of the week on Monday.  The freshman hitter continues to lead the team in kills (223) and hitting percentage (.238), ranking fifth, respectively, in both categories in the conference.

Walker has not been alone on the offense, however, as sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) has recorded a team-best five double-doubles this season after a 14 kill, 12 dig effort against UNH.  The outside hitter is second on the team in both kills (176) and digs (184) while leading the team and ranking first in the conference with an average of 0.36 service aces per set.

Junior libero Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) continues to steady the Retrievers’ backline, leading the team and ranking sixth in the conference with a 3.16 digs-per-set average.  The veteran has picked up a team-best 240 digs this season, leading a group of five Retrievers’ who have scooped up at least 100 digs.

Scouting the Hawks

Hartford sits at 6-12 overall and 0-2 in conference play after dropping a 3-1 decision at Stony Brook last Friday.  The Hawks had previously lost their conference opener at Albany by the same four-set score.

Sophomore setter Jackie Tamburri paces the Hawk offense and currently leads the conference with 679 assists for an average of 9.70 helpers per set.  Tamburri has acquired a consistent target, as well, with classmate Sareeta Nethersole leading the league with a .263 hitting percentage to go along with 265 kills.

All-Time Series vs. Hartford

UMBC leads the all-time series with Hartford 18-2 after the two teams split the two meetings a year ago.  The Retrievers had won 14 consecutive contests between the two squads before the Hawks knocked them off last season in West Hartford.  On the return trip to Baltimore on UMBC’s Senior Day, outgoing Retriever Allie Spaay notched a double-double with 48 assists and 13 digs while classmate Iman Kennedy registered 12 kills in the 3-1 win for the hosts.  In addition, Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) added 11 kills and 24 digs for her third double-double of the season.

Scouting the Great Danes

Albany remained unbeaten in conference play (2-0) and improved to 5-11 on the season by downing Stony Brook 3-1 on the road last Sunday.  Samantha Brostrom led the Great Dane attack with 11 kills while Sara Pope, who ranks seventh in the league in kills per set, added eight winners.

The Albany defense has been bolstered all season by two key contributors as Viktoriia Stroilo and Traci Vandegrift both rank in the top ten in the conference in digs per set.

 All-Time Series vs. Albany

UMBC trails the all-time series with Albany 21-2 and has not defeated the Great Danes since a 3-2 victory at home in 2007.  Albany has knocked the Retrievers out of the America East Tournament each of the last three seasons, including a three set sweep last season.

Retriever Stat Pack

Season Highs:

Double-Doubles: