University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
19-11, 11-1AE
Stony Brook University
17-14, 7-5AE
Volleyball Advances to the America East Championship for Second Consecutive Year, Ousts Stony Brook in Four Sets
11/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DURHAM, N.H. -- The top-seeded University of New Hampshire volleyball team advanced to the America East Championship match for the second straight season, as three players registered double-doubles in a four-set victory over fourth-seeded Stony Brook University on Friday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.
UNH, the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, improved its overall record to 19-11. Stony Brook ends it season with a 17-13 record. In the other semifinal, the third-seed University at Albany defeated the second-seed Binghamton University in four sets (25-16, 25-23, 15-25, 25-23).
After losing the first set, 25-23, the Wildcats took control of the match by winning the next three sets (25-13, 25-11, 25-20) and punched its ticket to the conference title match.
The win was a collaborative effort for UNH as three different players recorded double-doubles along with a trio with double-digit kills.
Sophomore middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) was two blocks shy of a triple-double, posting 12 kills, 13 digs and eight blocks. Junior outside hitter and America East First Team All-Conference honoree Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) recorded her team-leading ninth double-double on the season with 11 kills and 14 digs.
Senior setter Taylor Dunklau (Mukwonago, Wis.) rounded out the 'Cats that achieved a double-double. The America East Setter and Player of the Year orchestrated UNH to hit .243 in the match, tallying 41 assists 10 digs and two service aces.
Junior right side hitter Brenna Buckwalter (Evergreen, Colo.) led the New Hampshire offense with 13 kills while chipping in seven digs and three blocks.
Classmate Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.), an America East Second Team mention, anchored the backline with 17 digs.
Stony Brook opened the match with a 5-2 run, but UNH battled back to tie it up at seven apiece. The two sides traded blows as the score rose to 12-12. After conceding the next two points, UNH captured 10 of the next 12 exchanges to own a 22-16 lead late in the frame. However, the Seawolves surged back with a 7-1 run to knot the score at the 23 mark. Despite a UNH timeout, the Seawolves captured the first set.
After being limited to just a .061 hitting percentage in the first set, New Hampshire stifled Stony Brook in the second frame, 25-13. The Wildcats registered a .321 clip, powered by three kills apiece from Muses and Buckwalter. Muses also chipped in three blocks while hitting .750 in the frame.
UNH continued to overwhelm the SBU defense in the third stanza, recording a .433 attack percentage. Junior outside hitter Abby Brinkman (Brecksville, Ohio), Buckwalter and Forrest all contributed three kills in the frame. Muses continued to wreck havoc at the net, posting three blocks in the frame.
The fourth set was closely contested as UNH opened with just a three-point advantage at 10-7. UNH managed to stretch its lead to 16-9 as Stony Brook called a timeout. Breaking out of the huddle, the Seawolves engineered a 3-0 spurt to narrow the deficit down to four points at 16-12 in favor of the home team. Stony Brook continued its rally, trying to force a fifth set as the Wildcats clung on to a one-point lead, 18-17. However, New Hampshire quelled the rally with a 5-1 run to pull ahead 23-18. The Seawolves tried to seize the 'Cats' momentum by pulling within three, but UNH closed out the match with the final two points. Muses made it 24-20 with a kill and New Hampshire sealed the deal with a miscue by Stony Brook.
The Wildcats and Great Danes will meet for the first time in the America East title match and fifth time in postseason history Saturday, Nov. 22 (2 p.m.). The winner of the America East Championship will receive an automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament.
Check out UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHVolleyball) or follow the 'Cats on Twitter and Instagram at @UNHVOLLEYBALL.
