Jungsten’s 13 Kills Lead UAlbany to Sweep UMass Lowell
Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. – Fueled by Tatum Jungsten hitting .570 with 13 kills, the UAlbany volleyball team swept UMass Lowell in three (25-17, 25-17, 25-14) on Sunday.
An early 4-0 run sparked by a block and ace by Mikala McCauley gave UAlbany a 4-1 lead in the first game. The River Hawks later tied it up at five. UAlbany took the next three to rebuild the lead to 8-5. After a UMass Lowell kill, the home team won four of the next five, capped by kills from Jungsten and Amy Hunter, for a 12-7 advantage. The visitors countered on Brooke Peterson’s serving for a 5-0 run, tying the set at 12-12. A Jungsten kill stopped the run as the team went back and forth until 15-15. Two consecutive Olivia Schonewise kills put UAlbany up a pair. Following a UMass Lowell point, two straight McCauley dump kills made it 19-16 UAlbany. Following a service error, the Great Danes finished the River Hawks off in the set with a 6-0 run, including three Jungsten kills, for a 25-17 set victory.
A couple of Amanda Dolan kills sparked a 5-2 start for set two. UAlbany stayed ahead, but at 10-7, a 3-0 UMass Lowell run tied it up at 10-a-piece. UAlbany countered with three straight, started by kills from Samantha Brostrom and Schonewise, pushed the Great Danes back up 13-10. Anisa Smith got a kill and block to make it 13-12 UAlbany. Started by a Dolan kill, a 5-0 run on Viktoriia Stroilo’s serving gave the home team an 18-12 advantage. Later, a 3-0 run gave UAlbany a 21-14 lead. The Great Danes held off a late 3-0 run from UMass Lowell to take the set 25-17, ended by two Laini Leindecker kills, for a 2-0 match lead.
Set three saw UAlbany trade one point for two a number of times early to build an 8-4 advantage. After a couple of UMass Lowell points, UAlbany again won a pair for a 10-6 lead. The two sides exchanged points until 15-11. Following a UMass Lowell setting error, Lauren Spreen served the Great Danes through a 5-0 run, pushing the home team up 20-11. UAlbany won five of the final seven points to win the set 25-14 and sweep the River Hawks.
Jungsten’s .570 hitting percentage is the best mark for a UAlbany player this season. She had 13 kills with just two attack errors in 19 attempts, adding three digs and two blocks. Dolan matched a career-high five blocks, earning five kills. McCauley had a double double with 30 assists and 10 digs, while Leindecker finished with seven kills and 10 digs.
For the River Hawks, Smith got a team-best six kills and two blocks. Setter Kamiren Humphrey concluded with 19 assists, five kills and nine digs.
On Sunday, UAlbany will fight for first place against New Hampshire at the University Gym at 1 p.m.
