STORRS, Conn. With their eyes set on matching their best start in program history, UConn Volleyball took on the University of Albany in their second match of the weekend in the Dog Pound Challenge.
The Huskies went down early after strong plays from the Danes. However, an early ace from Emma Werkmeister and a block from Loren Winn cut the UAlbany lead to 12-9. The Huskies put together 4 straight points to tie the match and fire up the sold-out crowd. The back and forth opening set with service errors making it difficult on the Huskies. Werkmeister and Audrey Rome had back to back kills to give UConn a slim first set lead, and 6-0 run to close it gave UConn the first set 25-20, with big time blocks from Rome and Winn.
In set 2, Werkmeister, Taylor Pannell and Doga Kutlu got the Huskies going in the second with multiple kills apiece. A Great Dane run knotted the frame back up at 8 all, and UAlbany went on a run of their own to take back the lead at 15-12 halfway through the set. Errors from the Danes got UConn back within one. Back to back aces from Werkmeister got the Huskies back in front and ignited the crowd. At an inflection point at 23-23, UConn called a timeout and got clutch kills from Rome and Winn to take a commanding 2-0 set lead.
Both teams traded service errors with the Great Danes leading 4-3. Pannell chipped in 3 kills early to keep UConn within striking distance. Again, the Huskies went down in the set tasked with coming back, falling behind 15-11. UAlbany continued to keep the pressure on, extending the lead all the way up to seven, taking the third set 25-23.
UAlbany kept the momentum going into the fourth set, with strong play to take an 8-5 lead. The Danes kept their foot on the gas to keep the lead at three points. After trailing the first two sets, UAlbany took the fourth set 25-21 and pushed the Huskies to the brink in a final 5th set.
At first, It was more of the same for UConn in the fifth set, falling behind 3-0 calling a timeout. On the back of Hanna Tylska, the Huskies clawed their way back to knot the set at 5. UAlbany took the 12-10 5th set lead, but UConn dug deep to put themselves on the brink of escaping the furious Great Dane comeback. Consistent with her outstanding play all season, Werkmeister finished UAlbany off with a booming ace as the Huskies survived in five sets to match their best start in program history at 8-0 (2007).
Shynelle Woroniuk led the Great Danes with 21 kills in the match.
Up Next: UConn wraps up the Dog Pound Challenge tomorrow afternoon as they face Dartmouth at 1pm. UAlbany heads out to Laramie, Wyoming in the UniWyo Invite, taking on Utah and host Wyoming on September 20th.
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