Sept. 28, 2010

Final Stats

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va.) tallied a season-high 19 kills including five in the fifth set as the Stony Brook University volleyball team rallied for a 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 12-25, 25-22, 15-7) victory over the Long Island Blackbirds on Tuesday night at Pritchard Gymnasium. Stony Brook improves to 5-11 with the win while LIU falls to 2-13.

Headen hit .400 for the match and has hit over .300 in five of her last seven matches. Junior Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) added 16 kills while freshman Evann Slaughter (Clinton, Md.) registered eight kills and four block solos.

Trailing 2-1 after three sets, the Seawolves jumped to a 15-10 lead in set four. LIU rallied to take an 18-17 lead but Stony Brook tied it on a Headen kill and then took the lead on an ace from freshman Masa Balandzic (Pljevlja, Montenegro). The Blackbirds tied it at 19 before kills from junior Kelsey Sullivan (Hamilton, Va.) and Nelson gave a SBU a 21-19 advantage.

The Seawolves eventually clinched the fourth set on a kill from freshman Kaitlin Costello (Webster, N.Y.). SBU hit .343 in the set while holding the Blackbirds to an attack percentage of .108.

Stony Brook took control of the fifth set early, scoring five of the first seven points with the help of two kills from Headen. Long Island pulled to within 9-5 but the Seawolves then ended the set and the match with a 6-2 run. SBU hit .471 in the final set.

The Seawolves came out strong to open the match, jumping to a 17-10 lead. LIU then went on an 11-4 run to tie the game at 21 but Stony Brook scored four of the final five points to take a 1-0 lead. The Blackbirds grabbed a 15-10 advantage in set two and eventually expanded their lead to 20-13.

Stony Brook closed to within 23-20 on a Headen block but a kill from Breanna Cullity and block from Kelsey Plath evened the match at one. The Blackbirds dominated set three to take the 2-1 lead, hitting .542 on their way to the 13-point win.

Senior Jeannette Gibbs (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) recorded 13 digs to lead the Seawolves. Hanna Gibeau paced LIU with 18 kills while Jessica Rice added 13.

The Seawolves return to action Friday, opening conference play against the Providence Friars. Game time is set for 6 p.m.