Straight-Set Win vs. Albany Gives 'Cats No. 1 Conference Tourney Seed

Friday, November 11

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

18-10, 9-2AE

University at Albany

15-9, 9-3AE

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UAlbany	12	15	12	0
UNH	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Audrey Powell

Straight-Set Win vs. Albany Gives 'Cats No. 1 Conference Tourney Seed

11/11/2016 9:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Video Highlights

Smith Leads Balanced Attack With Match-High 11 Kills

DURHAM, N.H. – Kennedi Smith (The Woodlands, Texas) recorded a match-high 11 kills to lead the University of New Hampshire volleyball team's balanced attack in Friday night's impressive 3-0 victory against University at Albany at Lundholm Gymnasium. The set scores were 25-12, 25-15, 25-12.

In a battle to determine the No. 1 seed of the 2016 America East Championship, the Wildcats avenged last month's five-set loss in Albany to improve to 18-10 overall and 9-2 in America East with their seventh consecutive win.

Albany ends the regular season at 15-9, 9-3.

The tournament semifinals will be Nov. 18 (4 & 7 p.m.) and the title game will be Nov. 19 (4 p.m.). All three matches will be at Lundholm Gym. Ticket information will be released at a later time.

New Hampshire Team Stats
44 kills / 7 errors / .356 hitting percentage
43 assists
7 services aces / 4 service errors
52 digs
8 blocks (two solo)

Albany Team Stats
26 kills / 22 errors / .037 hitting percentage
25 assists
1 service ace / 1 service error
39 digs
1 block (all assisted)

UNH Individual Leaders
Kennedi Smith:11 kills, .364 hit%, eight digs
Emily Tanski (Plymouth, Mich.): 10 kills, eight digs, four blocks
Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.): nine kills, .389 hit%, 14 digs, three blocks
Hannah Petke (Rancho Santo Margarita, Calif.): eight kills, .667 hit%, three blocks, two service aces
Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.): five kills, .417 hit%, six blocks
Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.): 40 assists

Albany Individual Leaders
Laini Leindecker: seven kills, six digs
Akuabata Okenwa: five kills
Nicole Otero: 17 digs
Mikala McCauley: 20 assists, five digs

Up Next: Nov. 13 vs. Binghamton, 1 pm (Senior Day) [Regular-season finale]

THE DIFFERENCE

UNH recorded its second-highest hitting percentage of the season with a mark of .356; the Wildcats tallied 44 kills and just seven errors on 104 attempts.
On the defensive side, the 'Cats recorded 52 digs and eight blocks to limit Albany to a .037 hitting percentage – the second lowest by a New Hampshire opponent this season.

SET 1

UNH won the first four points of the set and Albany never got closer the rest of the opening set at the 'Cats rolled to a 25-12 win behind a .387 hitting percentage.
Leading 6-3, UNH won six consecutive points – two kills by Smith ignited the run – to force the Great Danes to call their second time out at 12-3.
Albany won the ensuing point, but that did little to slow down New Hampshire, which went on another 6-0 spurt to build an 18-4 lead.

SET 2

The second set was close early as there were eight tie scores and four lead changes, but UNH's .412 hitting percentage proved too much for the Great Danes.
Albany's three-point run gave the visitors a 7-5 lead, but a Muses kill and Smith service ace leveled the score.
With the score tied at 9, the 'Cats won three straight points fueled by Olhava with a kill and back-to-back blocks.
Albany inched back within 12-11, but New Hampshire reeled off five consecutive points; Petke ignited the spurt, which also included another Tanski service ace and two Smith kills.
The lead ballooned to nine points, 23-14, and moments later a kill by Muses and combined block by Tanski and Olhava ended the set to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead in the match.

SET 3

For the second consecutive set, Albany held a 7-5 lead. This time, UNH responded with a 5-0 run, which included a kill and ace by Smith as well as a kill and block from Muses, to build a 10-7 advantage that would not be relinquished.
Albany won a point but New Hampshire responded with a decisive 6-0 run to extend the margin to 16-8. The visitors committed four consecutive attack errors during that streak.
The score advanced to 18-12 and then UNH closed out the match with seven consecutive points. Petke tallied consecutive kills and Smith added two kills, including the one to close the set and match, 25-12.

'CAT NIPS

UNH is the No. 1 seed and America East tourney host for the fourth consecutive year. The Wildcats won the tournament title each of the previous three years.
New Hampshire improved to 8-3 at home. The Wildcats have a five-match home win streak, all in conference play.
The 'Cats have won three consecutive matched in straight sets and have lost just three sets during the current seven-match win streak.
Muses is UNH's candidate for the America East Volleyball Fans' Choice Player of the Year. Vote online at AEFansChoice.com until Nov. 15 at 12 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on the volleyball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL.