Albers Has Big Day as Bears Sweep Rochester and Case Western

BOX 1 | BOX 2

Rochester, N.Y., October 4, 2009 – The No. 5 Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team improved to 3-0 in the University Athletic Association (UAA) after 3-0 victories over the University of Rochester (25-15, 25-19, 25-21) and Case Western Reserve University (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) on Sunday, Oct. 4, at The Palestra in Rochester, N.Y.

Senior middle hitter Erin Albers was dominant in the Bears’ 3-0 win over Rochester on Sunday morning. She led the team with 13 kills and a .600 attack percentage and was the only player for Washington U. to record double-digit kills. Sunday’s performance was one of many impressive showings for Albers in her career against the Yellowjackets. In six matches, she boasts a career hitting percentage of .613 against Rochester, with 51 kills to just five errors.

It was five kills from Albers that paced Washington U. in the 25-15 opening set win against Rochester, and she was a perfect 5-for-5 attacking in the second set. The Bears were off to a rocky start in the second, trailing 9-5 before mounting a comeback. Senior Laura Brazeal had several crucial digs and recorded a kill as the Red and Green came back to tie the score at 11-11. A Rochester attacking error gave the Bears a 14-13 lead and began what turned into a 6-0 WU scoring run that turned the set.

Washington U. led 15-13 when freshman Marilee Fisher took a pass from Albers and dumped it in for a score and a pair of aces from sophomore Tricia Brandt helped push the WU advantage to six points, 19-13, which stood as the final margin of victory.

The Bears appeared to have control of the third frame when a dual block from freshman Madeleine Shroyer and sophomore Lauren Budde resulted in a 12-9 Washington University lead. However, Rochester fought back and pulled within one point on two occasions late in the match, but clutch hitting from sophomore right side Erin Kasson and sophomore outside hitter Kristen Thomas allowed the Bears to close on a 4-1 run.

Washington University hit .303 as a team in the win, and Kasson and Budde each finished with nine kills. Fisher was efficient setting the ball, registering 42 assists over three sets, and freshman Kelly Pang recorded a team-high 19 digs.

The Bears had three players record double-digits in kills in the afternoon sweep over Case Western Reserve. Albers led the way once again, tallying 13 kills and hitting .409 in the win. Kasson chipped in 11 kills and freshman Drew Hargrave set a new career-high with 10 kills and a .529 attacking percentage.

The Bears struggled to pull away from Case in the opening set, and trailed 20-19 late in the frame. A tipped ball that dropped for a kill from Albers tied the set at 20-20, and Washington U. took the lead, 21-20, on a block from Hargrave and Albers. Another Albers score, this time off the block and out of play put the Red and Green ahead by two, and Hargrave’s fourth kill of the frame clinched the win.

The second set started with a 6-1 WU run, with a pair of aces from Pang pacing the fast start. Albers converted her first four swings of the second set for scores and ended the frame with five kills, while Hargrave and Kasson had four apiece. Washington U. appeared to be headed to a third-set win before Case made a late charge and tied the score 23-23 in the waning moments. Albers once again played the role of closer, recording a kill to give Washington U. match point and tipping a ball over the block to end the match.

Washington U. had three players finish with double-digit digs against Case. Pang led the way with 16, Budde recorded 11 and Brazeal finished with 10.

Washington U. (15-3, 3-0 UAA) will return to action next Friday-Saturday, Oct. 9-10, when it hosts the Washington University Invitational at the WU Athletic Complex. The Bears will face Elmhurst College on Friday at 5:15 p.m., and Central College at 7:30 p.m.