Oct. 10, 2008

Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - University at Albany's attacking trio of Hillary White, Amanda Cowdrey and Kamisha Kellam proved too much for Stony Brook University's volleyball team Friday night, as they lost to the Great Danes, 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 25-27, 25-21), in Pritchard Gymnasium. Senior Gulce Nazli Dikecligil (Istanbul, Turkey) had another solid night for the Seawolves, leading all players with 20 kills and adding in 13 digs. With the loss, Stony Brook falls to 9-11 (0-2 America East) while Albany improves to 10-8 (3-0 America East.).

Things started off well for Stony Brook, which grabbed a 7-4 lead on kill by sophomore Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va.). The Seawolves survived a quick run by Albany, retaking the lead at 9-8 on kill from Dikecligil, Stony Brook's fourth kill of the set. The Seawolves would register only two more kills for the remainder of the frame, as Albany took control with a 12-4 spurt, capped with a kill by Brooke Stanley.

The second set followed suit with the first, as a kill from Dikecligil gave the Seawolves a 9-7 advantage. Once again, the Great Danes rallied, eventually grabbing a 20-18 lead on Cowdrey's fifth kill of the frame. Stony Brook threatened late, when a quick-attack by freshman Kelsey Sullivan (Hamilton, Va.) landed in, pulling the Seawolves within one at 23-22. Albany did not give in, however, winning the next two points for a 25-22 victory.

For the third straight set Stony Brook held an early lead, but this time maintained it throughout the majority of the first half of the set. After a kill by White tied the set at 17, the two teams battled back-and-forth, finding themselves still knotted at 25-25. An attack error by Cowdrey, followed by Dikecligil's sixth kill gave Stony Brook the 27-25 win and forced a fourth set.

With Stony Brook leading 10-9 in the fourth, Albany scored six points to the Seawolves two and forced Stony Brook into a timeout. The Great Danes were not fazed, scoring three-straight, resulting in another Seawolves timeout. Dikecligil and sophomore Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) then combined for five kills to pull Stony Brook within striking distance at 22-20. After the teams exchanged points, Cowdrey put together back-to-back kills to finish the match, 25-21.

Nelson joined Dikecligil with double-digit kills, registering 13 on the night. Junior Michelle Burrola (Glendale, Ariz.) had a game-high 21 digs, while sophomore Jeanette Gibbs (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) had 11.

Stony Brook's next match is at home on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against UMBC.