The Stony Brook volleyball team dropped a tough five-game match to its island neighbor, the Long Island University Blackbirds, Tuesday night in Brooklyn. The Seawolves showed solid determination after battling back from a 2-1 deficit, but eventually fell in the deciding game five by a score of 15-9.

The Blackbirds managed to out hit the Seawolves .294 to .244 and also out dug Stony Brook 79 to 67. Junior Alison Fields (Rochester Hills, Mich.) posted a game-high 19 digs in the contest and was followed by junior Rachel Goldsmith's (Aurora, Ill.)12. Senior LaToya Byerly (Beaumont, Texas) was the team leader in kills with 13 and Goldsmith scored a double thanks to her 12 kills in the match.

The Blackbird combo of April Danzy and Cristina Pintilie combined for 60 of Long Island's 77 kills, scoring 27 and 33 respectively. Ivana Vasiljevic set a school record with 66 assist.

The LIU match leads Stony Brook into a busy weekend. The Seawolves travel to New Britain, Conn. to take part in a three-team tournament at Central Connecticut. Stony Brook will battle Yale Friday night at 8 p.m. and then take on Rider at 10 a.m. and the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at 2 p.m. on Saturday.