Fight for First: UAlbany Hosts UMBC, Stony Brook This Weekend

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ALBANY, N.Y. – Five teams sit tied for first place in the America East, and UAlbany looks to break ahead of them.  The Great Danes take on UMBC on Friday, October 11th at 7 p.m. and Stony Brook on Sunday, October 13th at 2 p.m. at the University Gym.

Tickets for the UAlbany-Binghamton game on Thursday night are $ 7 for general admission and $ 2 for children 12 and under and senior 65 and over.  All students, faculty and staff can enter for free with a University ID.

UAlbany comes into Friday at 2-1 in-conference after splitting this weekend and 2-13 overall.  UMBC is also 2-1 in the America East and 11-7 overall, while Stony Brook enters the weekend at 2-1 in the league and 8-9 overall.

Last year, UAlbany split the season series with UMBC and Stony Brook, playing in four sets each in the four combined matches.  Under MJ Engstrom, UAlbany has dominated each opponent, going 12-1 against UMBC and 11-1 against Stony Brook.

UMBC is one of the five teams at the top at 2-1 in-conference, standing 11-7 overall.  The team leads the America East in hitting percentage (.199) and blocks per set (2.13).  The team’s leading hitter is senior Ali Goc, who has 188 kills and 229 digs.  In the middle, Hannah Schmidt is hitting .252 with 155 kills and 58 blocks.  Support staff includes senior setter Mallory McIntyre, with 552 assists and 21 aces.

Stony Brook also stands in first place at 2-1 in the league, sporting an 8-9 record into Friday under first-year head coach Corey Pawlikowski.  Kaitlin Costello leads the conference with 224 kills, adding 160 digs.  The team leads Division I with 139 service aces, led by sophomore middle blocker Stephanie McFadden, who hits .209 with 108 kills, 35 aces and 66 blocks.