By: Christian Hince | September 27, 2021
University at Albany Volleyball returned home Wednesday to beat Siena in a competitive but decisive three-match sweep. Their victory brought an end to a six-game skid. With the result, the Great Danes now sit at 4-10 while the visiting Saints remain searching for a win through 13 games.
UAlbany opened the first set with a kill from Kamara Kelly, before gaining a 5-4 advantage against their rival. UAlbany pulled ahead by as much as 7 in the match, leading much of the way, only to face a 20-20 tie at the climax. They pulled through however when a block from Grace Cozad and Danielle Tedesco gave them a 27-25 victory in the first. By the end of the night, Tedesco would end up leading the team with six blocks total.
The second set wasn’t too different. The Great Danes began with an Oren Abutbul kill and held the lead most of the way through, being up 22-16 at one point. Six straight points from Siena erased this advantage however, bringing the match back into contention. Nevertheless, UAlbany held on, as a Grace Cozad kill gave them the set win, 25-23.
Siena started the third match hot, leading 4-0. This lead was soon gone though, as four straight Charlotte Macken serves created a 5-5 tie. The third match was the most contested of the three, featuring 14 ties and 7 lead changes. With the set tied at 24, the Great Danes scored on two straight Grace Cozad serves, winning the day after a nail-biting 26-24 victory in the third. UAlbany won all three matches by 2 points.
Kamara Kelly showed her A-game, leading the offense with 17 kills and the defense with 13 digs. Malea Stanton and Elaina Wamhoff were the setting leaders, with Stanton having 16 to her name and Wamhoff having the slight edge at 17. Wamhoff also tallied 10 digs.
“Siena put up a great fight and made us earn every win,” said head coach Josh Pickard. “We are looking forward and excited to get into our America East play this weekend!”
The Great Danes will head to Binghamton on Sunday to begin conference play for the 2021 season. Here, they’ll try to build momentum for the second half of the season.
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