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Volleyball Clinches Playoff Berth with 3-0 Win Over Stony Brook
Nov. 9, 2008
Stony Brook, N.Y. - The University of Maine volleyball team will return to the America East playoffs for the first time since 2005 after a three set win over Stony Brook (25-17, 25-23, 26-24) on Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears improve to 13-12 overall, nine more wins than last season, and 6-5 in America East. The Seawolves drop to 12-16 overall and 3-7 in conference play. Maine was led by Lindsay Allman (St. Louis, Mo.) who had 15 kills and nine digs. The Black Bears set the tone in the first set as they came out firing with a .314 attack percentage and the 25-17 win. The offense sputtered in the second set, but Maine dug deep with their defense and pulled out the 25-23 victory. In the final set Stony Brook put forth their best offensive performance as they hit with a .350 attack percentage, but the Black Bears answered right back as Allman and Laura Goettsch (Woodstock, Ontario) caught fire down the stretch to tip the blow-for-blow battle into Maine's favor and secure the 26-24 win and playoff berth. Goettsch notched a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs. Amy Lawson (Coeur D'Alene, Idaho) stepped up defensively to compile four block assists. Jessica Wolfenden (Ottawa, Ontario) provided the Black Bear attackers with great passes as she picked up 37 assists, seven digs and three block assists. Ashlee Wright (Muncie, Ind.) tied Goettsch for the team-high with 11 digs. Maine's 13 wins are its most since coach Lynn Atherley's first season with the Black Bears in 2004 when the team finished 17-11. Depending on the play of UMBC next weekend, Maine can finish the season in third place in America East if they beat Binghamton in the regular season finale here in Orono on Friday, Nov. 14, starting at 7 pm.
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