Aug. 29, 2009

Villanova Box Score
Youngstown State Box Score

College Park, Md. - Stony Brook University's volleyball team dropped a hard fought 3-2 decision to Villanova before losing to Youngstown State, 3-0, in the final day of the Maryland Invitational on Saturday. Senior Harmonie Calinda (Huntington, N.Y.) led the Seawolves offense, averaging 3.62 kills per set during the two matches. She also joined junior Jeanette Gibbs (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) and freshman Greta Strenger (Woodbury, Minn.) in recording at least 3.00 digs per set.

In a match that followed a similar script to yesterday's tilt versus Maryland, Stony Brook took Big East opponent Villanova to five sets before eventually falling 3-2, (25-17, 20-25, 17-25, 25-16, 15-6). Led by Morgan Petkovich's seven kills, Villanova opened the first set of the day with a 25-17 win over the Seawolves. As a team, the Wildcats committed just one attack error, posting a team hitting percentage of .467.

With the offense finding its stride and the defense picking up 17 digs, Stony Brook stormed back to win the second set, 25-20. Junior Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va.) opened the frame up with a kill to put the Seawolves up 1-0, a lead they would never relinquish. Villanova fought back to tie the score six different times, but SBU always had an answer.

Behind a .357 team hitting percentage, Stony Brook took a one set lead on the Wildcats with a 25-17 third set victory. SBU's offense was led by senior Lindsey Gordon (N. Patchogue, N.Y.) who recorded three put-aways on four attempts. Calinda and freshman Sally Downs (Coppell, Texas) also picked up three kills each in the set.

Villanova's offense proved to be too much for the Seawolves, however, as the Wildcats committed just two errors during the final two sets of the match, winning them by scores of 25-16 and 15-6, respectively.

Stony Brook got off to a slow start in its second match of the day against Youngstown State, dropping the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-17. While the Penguins registered only three more kills than the Seawolves in the first two sets, SBU committed 18 attack errors to Youngstown's five.

The Seawolves offense rebounded at the start of the third set, with five of their first eight points coming via kills. But YSU's defense, which recorded thirteen total blocks, took charge in the latter half of the set as the Penguins held on for a deciding 25-17 win.

Stony Brook holds its first home match of the 2009 season on Tuesday against St. John's. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.