The Stony Brook University women’s volleyball team fell to the Albany Great Danes on Friday night in five sets (25-19, 25-14, 15-25, 18-25, 15-10) in the America East semi-finals.
Junior Alicia Nelson (Apple Valley, Minn.) recorded a career-high 26 kills and 16 digs.
Senior Jeanette Gibbs (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) led the team with 27 digs, while senior Ashley Headen (Alexandria, Va.) recorded 10 additional kills.
Stony Brook came out of the gates quickly, but Albany fought back and finally took a 15-14 lead. They would later go on a 7-1 run to take the first set.
The second set was a close affair until Albany lead the set 11-10. They recorded five consecutive points and went on to win the set.
However, they fired back quickly in the third set, scoring eight of the first nine points.
The Great Danes clawed back to get within 10-8, but then the Seawolves reeled off three unanswered points.
Albany rallied to get within two points again, 15-13. However, Stony Brook would not fall in straight sets. They won 10 of the final 12 points to take the set.
The Seawolves’ onslaught didn’t end with the third quarter, and they quickly got to a 9-5 lead.
After Nelson brought the score to 12-7 with a kill, Stony Brook unleashed a relentless attack, taking the next four points.
The Great Danes scored two consecutive points after Stony Brook went up 23-16. But the Seawolves would force a deciding fifth set.
The final set was a struggle. Neither team had a clear advantage.
With the score tied at six, Albany scored three points. Neither team went on a run after that, but Stony Brook couldn’t chip away at Albany’s lead. The Great Danes would take the final set.
