Oct. 9, 2011

Final Stats

WEst Hartford, Conn. - Senior Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) had a match-high 21 kills including six in the decisive fifth set as the Stony Brook University volleyball team edged the Hartford Hawks 3-2 (25-21, 12-25, 25-22, 23-25, 18-16) on Sunday afternoon. Junior Greta Strenger (Woodbury, Minn.) added a career-high 17 kills.

Nelson also had 14 digs, her third straight double-double and sixth in the last seven games. Sophomore Evann Slaughter (Clinton, Md.) chipped in with 16 kills to go along with five block assists and Strenger hit a team-high .353.

Freshman Laura Hathaway (Warsaw, N.Y.) tied a season-high with 27 digs and senior Kelsey Sullivan (Hamilton, Va.) set a career-high with 56 assists to go along with four blocks. The Seawolves (9-9, 3-2 AE) have gone to five sets in seven of their last eight matches and are 6-3 in five-sets this season.

Stony Brook led 2-1 but the Hawks never trailed in taking the fourth set. Stony Brook chopped a late five-point deficit to one at 24-23 but Saeeta Nethersole followed with a kill to send the match to a fifth set.

The Seawolves led 7-4 early in the fifth set before the Hawks rallied to take an 11-10 advantage. SBU then had three match points denied before kills from Nelson and freshman Taylor Gillie (Fort Wayne, Ind.) gave Stony Brook the set and the match.

The opening set was close all the way with neither team leading by more than three points until, with the score tied at 20; Stony Brook scored five of the last six points to take a 1-0 lead. Hartford dominated the second set, hitting .500 on their way to a 13-point win.

Stony Brook took control of the third set with an 8-2 run midway through to take a 17-9 lead. Hartford closed within 24-22 but a kill from Nelson gave SBU the 2-1 lead.

The Seawolves return to action on Wednesday, traveling to take on LIU. First serve is set for 7 p.m.