Nov. 16, 2008

Box Score

Albany, N.Y. - Sophomore Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) recorded a career-high 19 kills, but it was not enough as Stony Brook's volleyball team lost its final match of the 2008 season, 3-1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-9), to Albany on Sunday afternoon. The Seawolves end the season with a 12-18 (3-9 America East) record, while Albany improves to 20-8 (12-0 AE).

Stony Brook found itself down early in the first set, trailing 6-1 after a Seawolves attack error. But Stony Brook rallied right back, scoring 11 of the next 15 points to pull ahead 12-10 on an ace from senior Gulce Nazli Dikecligil (Istanbul, Turkey). The lead would not last long, however, as the Great Danes bounced back with a five-point spurt to move back on top 15-12. Albany maintained its lead until another ace from Dikecligil tied things up at 22-22. Stony Brook scored three of the next four points on two kills from Nelson and one from senior Jessica Graham (Eastport, N.Y.) to win the opening frame, 25-23.

In a reversal of the first set, Stony Brook opened up a 5-1 lead on Albany in the second, capped by an ace from junior Jamie Watson (New City, N.Y.). The Seawolves held onto their lead throughout the first half of the set before Albany finally tied things up at 16-16 on a kill from Amanda Cowdrey. The two teams then battled back-and-forth before Nelson tied things up at 24-24 with a kill. Nelson's sixth kill of the set put Stony Brook within one point of opening a 2-0 lead, but Albany scored three-straight to pull out the 27-25 win.

The see-saw battle continued into the third set, as neither team managed to open a lead of more than three points until late in the frame. The Seawolves had a very balanced attack, having seven players register kills in the set, but behind Kamisha Kellam's six kills (10 attempts) the Great Danes held on for a 25-20 victory.

With an undefeated record in conference play just one set away, the Great Danes came out on fire in the fourth set, scoring 11 straight points. Recording a .375 team attack percentage, Albany eased its way to a 25-9 deciding victory.