At tonight’s volleyball home opener, visiting Syracuse will have to face not one, but at least two Binghamton University Division I teams.

While seniors Kathleen Schauer and Jacki Kane lead BU’s volleyball team on the court, dozens of Bearcat swimmers will man the West Gym’s stands, taking charge of the raucous crowd anticipated this evening.

‘They are coming into our house and I’m sure they know it,’ said Bob Nolte, a sophomore diver. ‘Just having a big crowd can fire up the girls and if we can aggravate the other team enough to throw them off their game just a little, we have helped.’

In this sport where one point can make all the difference, having such a crowd is invaluable ‘ literally. Some players say the crowd makes no difference at all, but it’s no coincidence that teams like Albany and Maine, among the conference leaders in attendance, are perennial powers.

‘The [BU] girls have an awesome home record, and whether it’s us or something else, you can’t deny the results,’ said John ‘J.J.’ Blatchford, a sophomore swimmer. ‘I’m excited to see what the girls can bring this year, as well as what new things some of the guys come up with.’

Tonight, Blatchford and Nolte will be among ‘the guys’ ‘ the giant cheering section on the far side of the facility. The innovative swimmers, typically led by the team’s upperclassmen, have been known to come in body paint, bring clever signs and lead complicated cheers ‘ but only time will tell what ‘the guys’ come up with tonight.

But the game is much more than a fan-oriented spectacle. Thanks in part to the electrified atmosphere, but more because of their talent, the Bearcats enter this season on a 14-match home winning streak. If they can sustain that success throughout the year, they’ll likely reach the America East playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

The swimming and diving team won’t be the only squad represented tonight at the West Gym. Volleyball games are often a who’s-who of Binghamton athletics, with athletes from all sports making appearances in the facility where most of them practice. (If you’ve ever dreamed of meeting a certain basketball player, tonight’s probably a good night.)

Brandon Toro-Segarra, a sophomore wrestler, is a regular at BU’s home volleyball games. Does he think the crowd makes a difference?

‘I’m 100 percent sure it does,’ he said.

It’s important tonight, but the home-court advantage becomes especially crucial in the postseason. Albany has hosted the America East tournament each of the past three years, having defended that home-court advantage in 2004 and 2006. In 2005, Binghamton went to the NCAA tournament, thanks to a storybook ending ‘ on Albany’s home court.

On Oct. 14, 2005, 680 fans saw first-place, undefeated Binghamton topple then-undefeated Maine for sole possession of first place in the America East. The five-game thriller, which drew oohs and aahs from the packed crowd, was an upset that seemed to propel the team to that eventual America East title.

That mark of 680, an attendance record which still stands today, is in jeopardy, as 183 Binghamton students are either ‘attending’ or ‘maybe attending’ on Facebook as of 11 p.m. last night. Among the confirmed attendees are members of the BU softball, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, baseball, soccer, and track and field teams. (That’s not counting the ever-faithful contingent of Bearcat parents, who will be seated front and center in the stands.)

This year, nothing would be sweeter than a reprise of that 2005 Championship ‘ on the West Gym floor ‘ and it all begins tonight. After junior Katherine ‘Red’ Courage kicks off the evening with a rendition of the National Anthem, the Bearcats will pit that 14-match home winning streak against a 10-match losing streak versus the Orange, dating back to 1977.

Last year’s contest was particularly tight, with the Bearcats falling 30-27, 30-20, 31-29 at Manley Field House. Tonight, BU will look for redemption.

Tonight’s home opener will be held in the West Gym facility at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and there are giveaways and contests planned for the break after the second game.