Sept. 3, 2011

Iona Box Score
URI Box Score

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley Minn.) tallied a game-high 19 kills to lead the Stony Brook University volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 8-25, 25-16) victory over the Iona Gaels on the second day of the Stony Brook Holiday Inn Express tournament. The Seawolves nearly rallied from a two-set deficit against Rhode Island in the day's second game before falling 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 17-25, 15-6).

Nelson added 17 kills against URI and was named to the All-Tournament team as she totaled 47 kills in the three matches. Sophomore Evann Slaughter (Clinton, Md.) joined Nelson the All-Tournament as she had 18 kills on a .433 hitting percentage against URI after picking up 16 kills in the opener against Iona.

Slaughter hit .435 for the tournament and had a career-high six block assists against Rhode Island. Freshman libero Laura Hathaway (Warsaw, N.Y.) had 18 digs in both matches on Saturday and was named the Co-Defensive Player of the tournament.

Stony Brook jumped to an 18-13 lead in the opening set against Iona. The Gaels closed within one on three occasions before Nelson closed the set out with back-to-back kills.

Iona seemed to be in control of set two, leading 19-15 following a Stony Brook attack error. But the Seawolves took over from there, ending the set on a 9-2 run to take a 2-0 lead.

The Gaels dominated the third set, jumping to a 17-4 advantage. SBU never got closer than 12 the rest of the way as Iona hit .429 in the set.

But Stony Brook responded in the fourth set, scoring eight of the first 10 points with the help of two kills each from Nelson and Slaughter. Iona closed within three on two occasions but with the score 16-13; Stony Brook went on a 9-1 run to take command on its way to its first win of 2011.

Rhode Island jumped to a two sets to none lead against the Seawolves, winning each set 25-23. In the opening set, SBU overcame a late four-point deficit to tie it at 23 before back-to-back kills from Catie Steffen gave URI the 1-0 lead.

The second set was close all the way as it featured 13 ties and seven lead changes. Stony Brook led 23-22 following a URI attack error but the Rams rallied to score the final three points, two by tournament MVP Kayla Wilson, to close out the set.

The Seawolves jumped out to a 10-5 lead in set three but the Rams slowly chipped away and took a 20-19 advantage on a Stony Brook service error. But sophomore Kaitlin Costello (Webster, N.Y.) answered with a kill and then combined on a block with freshman Taylor Gillie (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to give SBU the lead for good.

Stony Brook led all the way in set four, winning by eight points behind five kills from Nelson and four from Slaughter. The Seawolves hit .429 in the set.

A block from Slaughter and Costello gave SBU a 1-0 lead in set five but URI than ran off four straight points to force a Stony Brook timeout. The Seawolves closed within 6-4 but the Rams scored the next four points and SBU got no closer than five the rest of the way.

The Seawolves return to action next weekend, traveling to take part in the CCSU Invitational.