Albany, N.Y.--The top-seeded University at Albany Great Danes
won the 2010 America East Volleyball Championship, defeating the No. 3 Seed
UMBC Retrievers in three sets, 25-20, 25-21 and 25-20. Albany controlled the match
from start to finish, leading for most of the match. With the win, the Great
Danes earn their fifth America East title since 2004.
As America East champions, the Great Danes earn an automatic
bid to the NCAA tournament where they will represent the conference. Albany
will learn its seed and draw after the NCAA Volleyball Tournament Selection
Show, which will air live on ESPNews on Sunday, November 28, at 3 p.m.
Albany won in dominant fashion due in large part to the play
of Tournament Most Outstanding Player and America East Player of the Year Teresa
Coppiellie. Coppiellie led the Great Danes in the championship, knocking down
12 kills, including the match-point in the third set. Coppiellie excelled
defensively, recording 19 digs and two solo blocks. Over the two matches in the
tournament, Coppiellie racked up 23 kills and 39 digs, recording double-doubles
in both matches.
The Great Danes also relied on the strong play of their two
other All-Tournament selections, middle blocker Casey Wright and libero Laurie
Gonzalez. Wright was a force in the middle, recording three solo blocks in the
championship match after blocking six shots to tie the single-match tournament
record in the semifinal round. Wright added seven kills on the evening to bolster
the Great Dane offense. Gonzalez amassed a match-high 25 digs against UMBC and
totaled 47 digs for the tournament to lead Albany in that category.
On the other side of the net, UMBC fought to stay in the match,
led by the efforts of All-Tournament selections Sabrina Hoeks and Hallie
Carter. Hoeks contributed 11 kills in the championship match and 19 digs, leading
the Retrievers in both categories. For the weekend, Hoeks put away 20 kills. Carter
recorded six kills and 16 digs.
Albany will play one more match before the NCAA tournament.
The Great Danes play at Virginia Commonwealth on Friday afternoon.
All-Championship Team
|
| Teresa Coppiellie, Albany - Most Outstanding Player |
| Laurie Gonzalez, Albany |
| Casey Wright, Albany |
| Hallie Carter, UMBC |
| Sabrina Hoeks, UMBC |
| Jeanette Gibbs, Stony Brook |
| Anna Lejina, Binghamton |