Binghamton had only one America East championship in any sport last year, and that sport was volleyball. This weekend, for the first time all season, the volleyball team looked and played like champions. At the Penn Invitational, the Bearcats fell to the host Pennsylvania Quakers in a close match, but then bounced back to sweep the next two games of the tournament. The wins come at a crucial time for the Bearcats; after a long and arduous preseason schedule, they finally open America East play with a home match against hated rival Albany on Friday. Check Friday’s issue of Pipe Dream for exclusive coverage on the home opener.

Pipe Dream’s Golden Pipe Award: Senior middle blocker Megan Hoag played crucial roles in the volleyball team’s two victories at the Penn Invitational on Saturday. Hoag was named to the tournament’s all-tournament team after recording double-doubles in two of the matches, 16 kills and 18 digs on Friday and then 10 kills and 11 digs in the first game Saturday. Hoag added 10 kills in the second Saturday match to help the Bearcats come away with a 2-1 record in their last tournament before conference play.

Voice of the Fans: “I don’t know why all the Mets fans are acting like they’re the best team in New York; they’re not and if there’s a Subway Series this year, I think we will find out just exactly how inferior the Mets are.” — Joe Mascola, senior philosophy, politics and law major.

In each issue of Pipe Dream, we will give you, the Bearcat fan, a chance to sound off on anything from the world of sports. Think you could have hit that free throw? A throw your favorite player missed in the clutch? Let us know. Psyched about an upcoming volleyball game? Let us know. Think Baxter is freaking annoying? Let us know. This is all about you, the BU fan. E-mail your comments to MarkMacyk5@AOL.com. Be sure to include your name, major and year, and we’ll print it right here, every issue.