Stony Brook University and University of New Hampshire both won five game thrillers today at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, N.H. in America East Semifinal matches. The third-seeded Seawolves and the top-seeded Wildcats will face off on Sunday, November 23 at 1 p.m. for the America East Championship. America East Player of the Year Alyson Coler of New Hampshire tied an America East Championship record with 27 kills in the first semifinal.
In the first semifinal, New Hampshire used a 13-3 run to break open a tight first game, including a spurt of six straight points, and, behind seven kills from America East Player of the Year Alyson Coler, took game one, 30-18.
Albany came back to tie the match in game two, taking a 30-24 decision behind five kills from Alexis Bowens and three service aces from Eileen Nicole Rodriguez. The Great Danes outscored the Wildcats 7-2 during the middle of the game to turn a 10-10 tie into a 17-12 Albany lead and, after New Hampshire closed the gap to 23-21, Albany scored five straight to regain the momentum and come away with the second game.
In game three, New Hampshire scored the first six points, and led 12-8 before using a 7-1 run to take a 19-10 lead. Albany never got closer than six the rest of the way and the Wildcats took a 30-24 win.
The Great Danes raced out to a 7-1 lead in game four, and used another 7-1 run to turn a 16-13 lead into a 23-14 lead before the Wildcats climbed back into the game with an 8-2 run of their own, including a streak of seven straight. With the score at 26-23 Albany, the Great Danes forced a fifth and deciding game by outscoring the Wildcats 4-2 the rest of the way.
Down 5-2 in the deciding game, the Wildcats outscored the Great Danes 13-2 to close out the match and advance to their fifth America East Championship final.
Coler led New Hampshire with a match-high 27 kills, which ties the America East Championship record, set last season by University of Maine’s Leah Voss. Albany’s Eileen Nicole Rodriguez led the Great Danes with 17 kills, and a match-high seven service aces. Anne Davis tallied 50 assists for the Wildcats, while Jill Dombrowski collected 41 assists for Albany.
In the second semifinal, Stony Brook jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in game one, and led by as many as seven, 17-10, on the way to a 30-25 win. Latoya Byerly tallied six kills to lead the Seawolves.
Game two saw nine ties and eight lead changes. Northeastern used an 8-1 run to change a 7-2 deficit into a 10-8 lead and the game see-sawed back and forth from there until Stony Brook scored four of the final six points to take a two games to none lead with a 30-28 win.
Northeastern scored the first two points of game three, and Stony Brook, despite tying the game on seven occasions, could not take the lead and the Huskies tallied four of the last six points to take the game, 30-26, and force a fourth game.
The Huskies forced the deciding fifth game after falling behind 6-0 in game four. Down 22-17, Northeastern went on a 6-1 run to tie the game, and closed out the game by winning seven of the last 11 points.
In the decisive fifth game, after two ties and two lead changes, the Seawolves took command, winning seven of the last eight points to advance to their first ever America East Championship.
2002 America East Volleyball Championship
All matches played at Lundholm Gymnasium (Durham, N.H.)
November 23, 2002
Semifinals
No. 1 New Hampshire 3, No. 4 Albany 2
No. 3 Stony Brook 3, No. 2 Northeastern 2
November 24, 2002
Championship Match
New Hampshire vs. Stony Brook, 1 p.m.