Women's Volleyball

Wildcat Defense Looms Large as UNH Wins 2024 #AEVB Championship

VESTAL, N.Y. – After dropping the opener, New Hampshire captured the final three sets behind an impressive defensive effort to claim the 2024 America East Women’s Volleyball Championship Saturday on the campus of Binghamton University.
 
The Wildcats won their first #AEVB Title since 2018, but their eighth overall in league history thanks to a relentless defense and timing hitting. UNH fell 25-15 to No. 4 UAlbany in the first set, before taking the last three 25-22, 25-22 and 25-23.
 
UNH recorded 17 total blocks in the contest, just two away from the championship record. Rachel Grier had nine total blocks for the second straight match to set the tone. The team also limited UAlbany to just .132 hitting with 72 digs. Libero Avery LePore was honored as the Most Outstanding Player after recording a season-high 27 digs as the anchor of the back line.
 
In addition to LePore, Meredith Hohnbaum and Jessica Shattles represented UNH on the All-Championship Team. Also honored were Kendall Harris (UAlbany), Shynelle Woroniuk (UAlbany), Milia Ilieva (UMBC) and Tsvetelina Ilieva (Binghamton).
 
UNH will find out its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday, December 1 when the NCAA Selection Show will air on ESPNU at 6 p.m.
 
How it Happened
  • The Great Danes scored the first six points of the match and led 13-8 midway through the set. UNH closed the gap to 14-12, but a UAlbany run made it 20-14 and the No. 4 seed finished with the 25-15 win.
  • In the second, New Hampshire got out in front early, leading 8-4. UAlbany cut it to 9-8, but UNH never gave up the lead. The Great Danes cut it to one again at 16-15 before another Wildcat run put the set out of reach, 25-22.
  • It was back-and-forth throughout the first half of the third and tied up 14-14. Even at 19-19, the Wildcats won four of the next six points for a 23-21 lead and captured the third set 25-22.
  • UAlbany came out firing in the fourth set and grabbed a 16-8 advantage, forcing a UNH timeout. The Wildcats mounted an 11-2 run to take back the lead 19-18. The Great Danes answered with a 3-1 run for a 21-20 advantage, but UNH closed them out for the 25-23 win.
 
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ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.