DURHAM, N.H. ? Despite trailing two games to none, the third-seeded Northeastern volleyball team came back to upset No. 2 Stony Brook 3-2 in the semifinals of the 2003 America East Volleyball Championship at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, N.H. on Friday evening. The Huskies advance to the final of the conference championship and will face the winner of the New Hampshire/Albany match that gets underway at 7 p.m.
Northeastern managed the improbable comeback as it trailed 2-0 and still won the match. It marked the first such feat in conference playoff history since 1994 when Hofstra downed Delaware 3-2.
The Huskies were led by Rebecca Holland who tallied 16 kills and 18 digs. Teammates Kristin Ursillo (53 assists and 10 digs) and Karrin Moore (13 kills and 12 digs) also recorded double-doubles in their winning effort. Stony Brook was paced by Rachel Goldsmith’s match-high 24 kills and 12 digs.
In game one, the Seawolves jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, forcing Northeastern to take a timeout. The Huskies rallied to cut the Stony Brook lead to two, 10-8, but they would get no closer. The Seawolves closed out game one, pulling away the entire time, and won 30-19. Sarah Bauer led Stony Brook with four kills in game one.
Game two was played similarly to game one as the Seawolves once again jumped out to a 10-5 edge. The Huskies would trim their deficit to three, two times throughout the remainder of the game, before Stony Brook picked up the pace to win 30-21. Rachel Goldsmith was a menace for the Seawolves as she tallied seven kills on 13 attacks, with no errors, for a .538 hitting percentage.
Northeastern came out hot in game three as it took a quick 9-3 lead, forcing Stony Brook to call its first timeout of the match, and the comeback was on. The Huskies, however, wouldn’t let up. NU pushed its edge to 26-21 before reeling off four unanswered points to close out the game 30-21. Ursillo was the catalyst of the Northeastern offense as she racked up 14 assists and three digs.
The Huskies tied up the match at two games apiece after winning game four 30-21. NU got off to a good start as it lead 10-5. The Huskies never really looked back as they pushed their lead to 23-18 before ending the game on a 7-3 run. Larissa Adomat tallied four kills and three block assists for Northeastern in game four alone.
The fifth and decisive game was a close battle the entire way with neither team being able to grab a lead larger than two points. Moore ended the match and the come-from-behind win for Northeastern with a dramatic service ace and led NU with three kills and four digs for game five.
2003 America East Volleyball Championship
Friday, November 21
Semifinals at Lundholm Gymnasium (Durham, N.H.)
No. 3 Northeastern 3, No. 2 Stony Brook 2 (19-30, 21-30, 30-21, 30-21, 15-13)
No. 1 New Hampshire vs. No. 4 Albany, 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 22
Championship Game at Lundholm Gymnasium (Durham, N.H.)
New Hampshire/Albany winner vs. Northeastern, 4 p.m.