ALBANY, N.Y. – For the first time ever, UMBC is the America East volleyball champion! The Retrievers clawed back from a 2-1 deficit Friday night in a match that was destined to go five sets. It marked the second time in the last four championships the road team was victorious.
The opening set featured tremendous plays on both sides of the net and UAlbany came out of the back-and-forth battle with a 25-23 victory. UMBC evened the score by winning the second set by an identical margin. The third set featured the largest lead of the match for either team as the Great Danes jumped out to an 8-2 lead. UMBC clawed back to cut the deficit to 12-11 and force a UAlbany timeout. Following the timeout the Retrievers were never able to inch closer and the Great Danes took a 2-1 lead in sets.
UMBC stormed back in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth set. The Retrievers then earned the first point of the final set but UAlbany wouldn’t go quietly and eventually pushed it to a 10-10 tie. The Retrievers compiled enough kills and prevailed, winning the final set 15-13 on junior Paige Krenik's final kill.
The champs will play Pepperdine in the first round of the NCAA Championship at 12 p.m. ET on April 14th. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
Setter of the Year Aysia Miller had a game-high 58 assists while Player of the Year Kamara Kelly led the Great Danes with 14 kills. Rookie of the Year Darina Kumanova finished with a game-high 22 kills as part of her eighth double-double of the season. Kumanova added another major honor to her resume as the freshman was named Most Outstanding Player.
UMBC graduate student Loren Teter had a game-high 33 digs to lead the Retrievers to an advantage in that defensive area. Teter joined Kumanova on the All-Championship Team along with their teammate Michela De Marzi, who finished with 14 kills and a .480 hitting percentage.
UAlbany All-Conference selections Danielle Tedesco and Charlotte Macken also earned All-Championship selections. Macken had a team-high 26 digs.
UAlbany senior Selah Malcoln earned the conference’s Elite 18 award with her 3.96 GPA in Business Administration and Psychology.
For box scores, highlights and recaps from the Spring 2021 #AEVB Championship, visit Championship Central.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.
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