Stony Brook Claims Back-to-Back #AEVB Championships
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – For the second time in as many years, Stony Brook secured the America East Volleyball Championship. On the heels of defeating No. 4 Hartford in straight sets on Friday, the top-seeded Seawolves outlasted No. 2 UAlbany in five sets on Saturday to claim the title.
After dropping the first set 25-17, the defending champs won the second and third sets (25-14, 25-18) in front of a raucous home crowd at Pritchard Gymnasium. The Great Danes fended off a late rally from Stony Brook in the fourth set (25-21) to force a decisive fifth set. The Seawolves got off to an early lead in the final frame and continued on to a 15-8 victory to win their third #AEVB championship.
Stony Brook graduate student Emily Costello was named Most Outstanding Player. Costello totaled 27 kills over the course of two matches, a team-high 17 of which came in the title match. Costello also tied a team-high with five blocks on Saturday.
LeAnne Sakowicz recorded a game-high 54 assists and was also named to the All-Championship Team along with teammate Kiani Kerstetter. UAlbany junior Akuabata Okenwa had a game-high 21 kills while senior Nicole Otero recorded a game-high 28 digs. Both were named to the All-Championship Team.
Hartford’s Megan Anderson and New Hampshire’s Gabri Olhava were also named to the All-Championship Team.
UAlbany junior Chloe Evering received the Elite 18 Award. Evering carries a 3.98 GPA in biology.
The Seawolves won their second regular season title in program history and have not lost a game to a league opponent all season. They clinched the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament with Saturday's win and will find out their next opponent on the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, November 25 on NCAA.com.
For box scores, highlights and recaps from the 2018 #AEVB Championship, visit Championship Central.
2018 America East Volleyball Championship
at Pritchard Gym – Stony Brook University
Semifinals – Friday, November 16
#2 UAlbany 3, #3 New Hampshire 0
#1 Stony Brook 3, #4 Hartford 0
Final – Saturday, November 17
#1 Stony Brook 3, #2 UAlbany 2
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