Dane Pound

Who offered the following quote before last year's Albany-Siena game: "I know we're both in the same city, or whatnot. But to me, a rivalry is somebody in our conference (the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) like Marist. They're still relatively close and it's gone back and forth with the wins. I don't know the last time Albany actually won."

That's normal. I haven't recieved my season tickets yet either. I did order my tickets for the $iena game through UAlbany and got them seperatetly. I would guess holding the one game at St. Rose is complicating the ticket process. They may also want to make sure they don't have to move the Dartmouth game because of the floor also before they send the tickets out.

Saints, Danes eager for 'W'-TU I noticed in the paper this morning that Sacred Heart beat Army by 15 last night. Army isn't great but that's still an RPI (and confidence) boost.

I'll be working tomorrow too. I'll enjoy wearing my "Beat Siena" pin in order to get under the skin of the $iena fans there. They seem a little nervous about this game. Unlike past years there should be no freshman starting so no freshman jitters. All five starters were in the Pepsi last year and shouldn't be surprised by the intensity of this game. They should feed off it.

Just curious if they put the Albany people together or spread us out. I can only hope I'm not sitting behind a bunch of $iena students talking on their cellphones all game long again. I'm in section 205.

I'm pretty sure Green is a transfer also. This team is pretty much loaded with sophmores and juniors. Spierre and Dombrowski are the only seniors. Although Dombrowski really came up with some big service points at some crucial stages yesterday. As Dane96 mentioned it must have been much sweeter for those two as the team was 4-22 their freshman year. I did notice yesterday that the first people out on the floor to congratulate the team was the women's hoop team. Great to see that, hopefully the volleyball team will be able to return the favor this March.

UALBANY CAPTURES AMERICA EAST VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN FIVE-GAME THRILLER Albany, N.Y. – Ashley Hunter had a tournament-record 28 kills and Shelby Goldman added 25, as UAlbany rallied past Maine, 3-2, to win its first-ever America East Conference Volleyball Championship on Saturday, Nov. 20 at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes, who won by scores of 30-20, 28-30, 22-30, 30-20 and 15-13, became the first women’s program in school history to earn an NCAA Division I Tournament berth. UAlbany (27-6) had to come from behind for the first time this season, trailing 2-1 after three games. Hunter, the championship’s most outstanding player, helped draw her team even with nine kills in the fourth. She nailed a pair of winners in a four-point run that snapped a 9-9 tie. Goldman, who was also on the all-tournament team, nailed four kills in sending the final to a fifth and deciding game. Maine (17-11) took a 13-12 lead in the fifth, when Carmen Morgan, who recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 15 digs, blasted a shot off a blocker. The Great Danes responded with three consecutive points to win the title. Ashley Green spun a service ace to the right sideline to give her team the lead. Goldman then delivered the game-winning point, when she sent back Morgan’s dig that just cleared the net. "This is just amazing for our seniors to get a conference championship," said UAlbany coach Kelly Sheffield, whose team won just four of 24 matches in 2001. "We kept our composure and stayed positive. Our ball control got better after the third game, and Hunter just got on a roll." Maine’s Brittany Howe, a 6-foot senior, had six of her 16 kills in the third game, when her team seemed to take control of the match. All-Conference outside hitter Kaili Jordan totaled 13 kills and 10 digs for the Black Bears, who handed UAlbany its lone conference regular-season loss eight days ago. "I really can’t explains how this feels," said America East Player of the Year Blair Buchanan, who had 62 assists and 13 digs from her UAlbany setter position. "This was our goal all year. I never thought we would lose. Hopefully, this will be a stepping stone for what we can accomplish in the future." UAlbany’s Ashlee Reed added her sixth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs. The Great Danes, who have won 21 of their last 22 matches, will await the NCAA pairings to be announced on Nov. 28.

That was a fantastic game. Congrats to both teams for engaging in an entertaining battle. After the break when Maine took over that third game I thought the Danes were done for. They fought back and it looked like they were in trouble again in the fifth but pulled it out. Maine did not make it easy and battled all the way-hats off to them. Official attendence was 415 but it seemed like more. Maybe it was just that the people who were there were noisy. A great turnout by the students who made plenty of noise on their own and got the crowd involved during time outs. I especially like the football kickoff style sound effect when E-Rod was serving. A great and well-deserved win. Hopefully my voice recovers by Tuesday night.

Jordan, UAlbany impress in debut-TU Ex-Jordan-art debut: Juniot transfer Lucious Jordan scores career-high 30 in first game with Danes-Troy Record

I couldn't make it last night but I'll be there this afternoon. I forgot to post this yesterday but there was a nice feature in the Troy Record. Record-setting Danes have eye on NCAA volleyball tourney-Troy Record

The BCA tourney where $iena played it's first three games was a very tough way for them to start the season with a young team. I guess it was a good opportunity for them to play some higher level competition on a neutral floor. The real drawback was that you get no time in between games to work on your problems. They would play a game and then have to go right back and play the next day. Seemed like a very tough thing to do for a young team. They probably would have had better sucess had they made the trip with a veteran team. I thought they would probably be able to grab one game down there. With Syracuse coming on Saturday they are going to be desperate for the win Tuesday night. I'm sure with a couple of practices under their belt they will play better. They certainly won't be Sacred Heart, that's for sure. That said, last night's game was awesome and hopefully an indication of what we'll see Tuesday from the Danes. In $iena gets down in that game remember to watch your head Danes fans. They're giving away 5,000 of those magnets that night and they may be flying around the Pepsi.

From Bauman's apperance last night I guess he isn't going to redshirt. Nice way to start too knocking down your first 3. Nice stat line for Lillis- 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block and NO Turnovers. I listened to that game thinking how well he played and then saw that he didn't take a shot. We know he can shoot. A nice testament to him by controlling the game without taking a shot. I'm sure his scoring will come if it needs to. Sounded like he made a very nice pass to B. Wilson at one point. We have to get some of these road games televised.

I actually was at something mildly similar back when I went to UA. It was a Albany-Siena hockey game. The game was very physcial as expected and between periods the $iena fans threw debris down on the Albany players as they were exiting the ice. The Albany coach yelled at some of the fans who then jumped over the plexiglass and got into a fight with him. Other coaches and some players broke up the fight but the crowd went banannas, myself included. The two teams stayed in the locker room for an extended break while extra police officers were called and the crowd had time to calm down. There were cops everywhere for the final period so there were no further outbreaks. Other than NFL games where there are plenty of drunken brawls that was one of the freakiest games I've been too. It was also where I learned how Albany fans are supposed to feel about $iena fans.

That was unbelievable. I know Sacred Heart isn't great but that was awesome. I cannot even articulate anything better than that. My wife and I just sat listening to the game and grinning. Jordan was insane, I would have loved to see that game because they couldn't stop him. Everybody chipped in, Zoellner found his groove in the second half. Lots of people played great that was just fantastic. I cannot wait to see this team play.

I hadn't thought of that. On the women's side right now it's a choice between Schumaker and Schumaker. I don't trust anyone else in that situation. The beauty of the men's side is there are several guys I'd be comfortable with. I'd agree with Levi but I thought Q was probably the best shooter last year. This year I'd be happy with Iati, Levine, Q or J. Wilson taking those cruicial free throws.

Through the course of the season I forgot Disch was a freshman. He was named Rookie of the year after a fantastic season. Congrats to him. Disch, Gudmundsen and Brandon Shaw were named first team. Bazan, Jacon Anderson, Matt Kryzak and Chrobak were on the second team.

Lucky for me I'm a fan of both apples and oranges. Here's to hoping they both have both have great seasons. BTW the women open against Morgan State whose coach is in her 3rd year and her record is 4-52. Yikes.

I'm not trying to start anything here. Just curious how expectations have changed since Ayers left.

It's early in the season so you never know how guys will play together but I guess that goes for Sacred Heart as well. I think before Wilson's suspension they could have won this game by double digits. I'll pick the Danes by 5.

For earning coach of the year honors and player of the year honors. Buchanan, Shelby Goldman, Ashley Hunter and Ashlee Reed were named all conference. There's also a story in today's TU about the tourney. UAlbany spikers eye NCAAs-TU BLAIR BUCHANAN NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR Boston, Mass. – UAlbany’s Blair Buchanan was named the America East Conference Player of the Year and Setter of the Year as announced by the conference office on Thursday, Nov. 18. Kelly Sheffield was voted America East Coach of the Year by his peers. Buchanan became the first player in conference history to be named both player and setter of the year. In addition to the major awards, three Great Danes joined Buchanan with all-conference accolades. Outside hitters Shelby Goldman and Ashley Hunter, along with middle hitter Ashlee Reed, were named to the first team. A sophomore setter, Buchanan leads the conference with 1,294 assists and an average of 12.56 per game. She also has tallied 135 kills on 287 attempts for a .338 hitting percentage. Buchanan added 238 digs and 28 blocks. A six-time America East setter of the week honoree this season, Buchanan set the UAlbany single-season record for assists and is fourth on the all-time list with 2,160. Sheffield, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the Great Dane program, guided the squad to its first America East regular-season crown with a 25-6 record, including 13-2 in conference play. UAlbany finished with its most victories since the 1988 team won 37 matches. The Great Danes also set a school record with an 18-match unbeaten streak. Goldman established a personal-best with 440 kills this season to lead the UAlbany attack. Her average of 4.19 kills per game is the best in the America East. Goldman tallied 10-plus kills in 29 matches, including a string of 26 straight. A strong offensive and defensive player, Reed finished the regular season with 284 kills (2.65 pg) and 234 digs (2.19 pg). She has converted on 649 attempts and is third in the conference with a .327 hitting percentage. Reed also sits third on the team with 76 blocks. Reed, a junior, ranks among UAlbany’s career top 10 in kills (812) and blocks (214). Hunter ranks second on the Great Danes with 321 kills in her first season at UAlbany after transferring from St. Louis University. She averages 3.57 kills per game, which is sixth-best among the conference leaders. Hunter has also managed 74 digs and 24 blocks. UAlbany, as the top seed, will host the America East Conference Tournament on Friday and Saturday at University Gymnasium. The Great Danes play Binghamton in the first semifinal on Friday at 5:00 p.m., while No. 2 Northeastern meets Maine at 7:30 p.m. The championship is slated for Saturday at 4:00 p.m., with winner receiving a NCAA berth.

Hopefully it means Lillis has practiced really well and is a very good player. It probably also means something that Lillis would get the start over Perry who is a pretty good player in his own right. The quote from Brian Depasquale in the TU was "Jamar helped determine what the penalty would be in consultation with athletic director Lee McElroy and head coach Will Brown." Hopefully it's nothing serious but it puts a bit of a damper of the opening game. Great Danes lick chops for a victory-TU

I can't wait for the season to start after reading those. Certainly sounds like Zoellner knows whats expected of him and how the rest of the starters will fit in. A story in today's TU says B. Wilson and Q practiced yesterday but are questionable for tomorrow. Danes back at practice-TU

Danes guard calls it quits-TU

I'm sorry to hear she's leaving and she will certainly be missed this year. It has to have been frustration for her to not be able to play up to her abilites because of injuries. We certainly knew she was gutting it out most of last year with her foot problems. In all likelyhood her she is scholastically a senior and will probably graduate in the spring. Hopefull she stays at UA and is successful and whatever she does afterward.

The game notes are up for the Sacred Heart game. Probable starters are: Iati J. Wilson Jordan Levine Zoellner Brent Wilson is listed as a "top reserve" which hopefully means his injury wasn't serious and he's available. Wyatt, Q, Lillis and Perry were the others listed as reserves. Sacred Heart lost their top guards from last year but they are pretty big. 6'10 center and a 7'2 center who was 2nd in the conference in blocks. Last year that would have worried me.