WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The Stony Brook volleyball team is off to a 2-0 start to CAA play after completing the weekend sweep of William & Mary with a 3-2 (25-27, 25-20, 25-19, 24-26, 15-9) win on Saturday. The Seawolves have now won four matches in a row for the first time since October 2024.
The big story today was the Seawolves' incredible showing at the net as they set a new program record with 22 total blocks. Leading the way was Damisi Osibodu who broke the individual program record for blocks in a game with 14.
How It Happened
SET 1 | William & Mary came out aggressive in the first, quickly putting the Seawolves in a 6-1 hole. Later, down 13-5, Stony Brook was able to string together a 5-2 with Anderson leading the way with a kill and a block. After the Tribe came back and regrew their lead to 17-10, Osibodu pulled off some defensive heroics with four blocks in the span of seven serves, leading to a 6-0 run to put the team in front 21-19. In the end, however, W&M was able to hold Stony Brook to set point, tying it up at 25-25 and going on to win the set.
SET 2 | Initially trailing 5-1 to open the second, the Seawolves promptly evened the score at 7-7 before going up 12-10 on a 4-0 run capped off by Osibodu's fifth block of the day. Multiple W&M service and attack errors would further add to Stony Brook's lead down the stretch, culminating in a pair of kills from Ayanna Pierre Louis to close out the set.
SET 3 | With the score tied 6-6, Pierre Louis went on a tear with three straight service aces to give Stony Brook the lead. The errors would continue to pile up for the Tribe while Seawolves remained solid at the net as Osibodu added two more blocks and two more kills to lead the way. Carey-Jean Block would finish things off with the team's fifth ace of the set.
SET 4 | Though Stony Brook again found itself in another early hole, falling behind 11-6, Osibodu again came in clutch on defense and recorded four blocks in a 7-0 run to make it 13-11. Despite Osibodu and Pierre Louis adding another three blocks to tie the program record with 21, the Seawolves could not hold on, dropping the set 26-24.
SET 5 | The Seawolves took the opening point of the set on a Lei Lasike kill and never looked back. A 3-0 run saw Osibodu notch her 14th block of the day and the team's 22nd to extend the lead to 9-5, before a 4-0 rally capped off by three straight Tribe attack errors sealed the victory.
Notable Stats
- The previous team record for single-game blocks was 21 set back on September 20, 2003 against Buffalo. Likewise, the previous individual record was 12, set by Maria Samilo (9/6/03) and Cynthia Orengo (9/15/00).
- In addition to posted her fifth double-double of the year with 16 kills and 17 digs, Ella Sanders also set a new personal best with seven blocks today. She also topped 100 career blocks in the process.
- Taryn Su earned her first career double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs.
- Fuertez set a new career high with 27 digs to lead the team.
Up Next
After four weeks and 12 matches on the road to begin the year, the Seawolves will finally return to Pritchard Gym for their home opener next week as they take on Hofstra in the Battle for Long Island starting Friday, September 25, at 6:31 p.m. The match will be streamed live on FloCollege.
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