UAlbany, Siena go west seeking volleyball upsets

Postseason play is becoming a habit for the Capital Region’s two Division I volleyball programs.

University at Albany and Siena College traveled to California this week to compete in the NCAA volleyball tournament tonight.

The Great Danes, who have won four of the last five America East Conference crowns, take on second-ranked Stanford at Stanford, while Siena, making its fourth straight appearance in the NCAAs, visits the Pete Newell Court at Berkeley to take on eighth-seeded California.

The Great Danes (23-8) won their third consecutive league title this season. Senior middle blocker Kamisha Kellam, the America East Conference Player of the Year,

averages 2.80 kills per set. She tops the conference in hitting percentage (.388)

“It is really exciting. It’s going to be a tough match, but when you go to the national tournament, you have to be ready to play the best teams in the country, and we are,” said Kellam, a three-time all-conference selection.

Other key players for the Great Danes are sophomore middle blocker Amanda Cowdrey, who tops the team in kills per set (3.30) and digs (2.95), and sophomore setter Brooke Stanley, who was the conference setter of the year after recording league highs in assists (10.56) and service aces (32).

Stanford (26-3) is one of just two teams in the country to play in all 28 NCAA championships. The Cardinal is led by 6-foot-4 outside hitter Alix Klineman, who averages 3.58 kills per game. Senior Foluke Akinradewo averages 1.48 blocks per set and 14.71 kills per set. Stanford won its third straight Pac-10 title.

Siena (20-12) is paced by junior middle hitter Burgandy McCurty, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. She leads the conference in hitting percentage (.355) and in kills per set (4.70).

Setter April London was the conference’s setter of the year after topping the league in assists per set (10.32). Senior captain Kelly Hummel finished second on the team and ninth in the MAAC with 2.74 kills per set.

Siena is 0-4 in NCAA tournament matches. Last year, the Saints lost to Penn State, 30-19, 30-11, 30-14.

The 23-6 Golden Bears are spearheaded by junior outside hitter Hana Cutura, the conference leader in kills per set (4.47) and sophomore setter Carli Lloyd, who is third in the nation in assists per set (12.08).

AROUND CAMPUS

u Five former Capital Region standouts played prominent roles in Hartwick College’s success in football this season. The Hawks led the nation in passing offense (397 yards per game), were second in total offense (544 ypg) and fifth in scoring offense (44 ppg). All-American senior receiver Jack Phelan (Guilderland) led the nation in receiving yards (153.3 ypg) and tied an NCAA all-time record for TD receptions with 26. Noah Koreman (Albany) finished with 47 catches for 854 yards and 12 TDs. Offensive lineman Gary Chrys (Niskayuna) started on a unit that was recognized on a national “Team of the Week” by D3football.com. Tight end Keith Geraldsen (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) averaged 20.3 yards per catch, while sophomore linebacker Joe D’Allesandro (Niskayuna) was sixth on the team in tackles (44) and added an interception and a fumble recovery. The Hawks were 7-3 overall, were second in the Empire 8 league and earned an ECAC playoff berth.

u Union College’s women’s swimming and diving team attempts to defend its Liberty League championship at RPI today and Saturday.

u Junior forward Kyle Stevens (Saratoga Springs) scored 10 points, grabbed nine rebounds and added four assists, and senior Jeff Howe (Niskayuna) chipped in with nine points and six rebounds in SUNY-Geneseo’s 62-55 wn over Rowan recently.

u SUNY-Cortland won its first NCAA Division III national cross country championship with the help of three Capital Region runners. Seth DuBois (Guilderland) was seventh in 24:38.73, Seamus Nally (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) finished 11th in 24:46.67 and Justin Wager (Guilderland) was 28th in 24:57.47 at the NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championships over 8k at Hanover College.

ROGOWSKI CITED

Merrimack senior attackman, Greg Rogowski of Cohoes, a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, has been named to the first team Preseason All-American team by Inside Lacrosse Magazine’s Face Off Yearbook for the third consecutive year.

Rogowski was also named first- team All Northeast-10 by the same publication. Rogowski’s 229 career points make him tops among active players in Division II. Rogowski was named team captain for the 2009 season, the second straight year he was elected.

HONOR ROLL

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY

Head football coach Bob Ford was named the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year for the third time, and offensive lineman Raphael Nguti, defensive lineman Tom Pandolf, tailback David McCarty (LaSalle), punter Chris Lynch, safety Dave West, free safety Dave Casale, inside linebacker Justin Brancaccio and wide receiver Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs) were first-team all-conference selections. Center Kevin Richards, offensive tackle Jon Leible, guard Nik Schultz, defensive end Eddie Delaney and return specialist Justin Gannon were second-team picks.

In volleyball, Kamisha Kellama was named Player of the Year, Brooke Stanley was selected Setter of the Year and Laurie Gonzalez was named Defensive Specialist of the Year. Kellam and Stanley were first-team choices on the All-Conference team, while Gonzalez was on the second team.

Senior Michelle Simpson was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association Division I All-America team for the second consecutive season. The America East Conference’s Midfielder of the Year was second on the team in scoring with 10 goals and 12 assists. She concluded her career second on the Great Danes’ career points list (101) and was fourth in career goals (30) and assists (27).

HAMILTON

Erin McNally (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) was named to the NCAA Division III all-rookie team by womensfieldhockey.com She scored two goals and was second on the team with eight assists She was also named the Liberty League’s Rookie of the Year and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s North Atlantic Region second team earlier this month.

UNION COLLEGE

Michelle Rogers was named to the D3hoops.com. national team of the week, the ECAC Division III upstate player of the week and the Liberty League forward of the week after scoring a career-high 38 points to go along with nine rebounds in Union’s 82-73 win over Williams College in women’s basketball.

SKIDMORE

Christine Kemp was named to the 2008 Longstretch/NFHCA Division III All-American first team after scoring 18 goals and adding 14 assists for the Thoroughbreds. She was also named the Liberty League Player of the Year, the Liberty League tournament MVP and a first-team selection on the All-North Atlantic Region team.