The Binghamton University volleyball team went toe-to-toe with rival University at Albany this weekend in a home-and-home series that could have helped determine this season’s conference champions. The Bearcats won in decisive fashion at Albany on Friday, sweeping their opponents 3-0, but Albany returned the favor on Sunday, defeating Binghamton in five sets at the West Gym.
‘[Albany’s] a tough team. They’re perennial conference champions, so we know every time we play them, it’s going to be a tough match,’ said Binghamton head coach Glenn Kiriyama.
The Bearcats (10-12, 5-2 AE) entered this weekend with the drive to take possession of first place in the conference. In the first match, Binghamton’s offense ignited quickly as it took all three sets in a highly contested match. The first set started off well for the Bearcats, who secured a quick 8-3 lead. The lead was cut to just one after the Great Danes scored seven points in a row. With strong and consistent kills, the Bearcats edged out on top and took the first set, 25-21.
The second set proved tougher as the Great Danes’ offense jumped ahead with an 11-6 lead. The Bearcats cut the five-point deficit to just one, and the score remained close as neither team was able to take a big lead. The turning point of the match occurred when senior outside hitter Anna Lejina dropped three straight kills, closing Albany’s lead of 23-19 to 23-22. The Bearcats then took control of the match, winning the set 28-26.
Binghamton took the opportunity to sweep Albany in the third and final set of the match. The Bearcats sprung out on top with an early 9-7 lead. With the support of outside hitters Lejina and senior captain Michelle McDonough, the team notched another set victory to win the match.
Lejina and McDonough each finished the match with 16 kills. Lejina also picked up the defense with 20 digs. Freshman libero Xiomara Ortiz, who was named America East Rookie of the Week, played clean defense, notching 27 digs. Junior setter Julie Chambers continued her stellar performance with 43 assists by the end of the night.
This win ended an eight-game regular season losing streak for Binghamton in the rivalry between the two teams.
Game 2 continued back home Sunday evening at the West Gym.
The Great Danes jumped out early in set one with a 7-4 lead. However, they were not able to hold on to their lead as the Bearcats heated up and tied the score at 8-8. The score remained tight, but the Bearcats edged out on top with a set-winning kill by McDonough, finishing the set 25-22.
Albany’s offense sparked in set two as it earned the early lead, 5-1. Binghamton was unable to stop Albany’s onslaught, dropping the set 20-25. The Bearcats never took the lead in this set. Set three proved to be more intense as both teams fought point for point. The biggest lead was a mere three points, in which Binghamton led 22-19. The Bearcats ended up securing the 2-1 set lead with the 26-24 win.
The Bearcats could not hold on to this lead, dropping the next two sets and losing the match.
‘[Albany] just played better all around against us this time. We have to step up our game a little bit but we just couldn’t do it today,’ Kiriyama said. ‘I thought their hitter looked better. We didn’t hit as well and that just makes all the difference right there.’
The Great Danes secured an early lead in the fourth set before the Bearcats were able to tie it up at 20. The Bearcats took the lead 21-20 with a kill by Lejina, but could not hold it up and lost the set 22-25.
The fifth set started off with a Binghamton lead at 3-1, but it quickly diminished as Albany surged forward and secured a three-point lead, 10-7. The Bearcats never regained the lead, losing the set 15-11.
McDonough notched a career-high 23 kills with 10 digs. Lejina was right there behind McDonough with 22 kills. Ortiz continued her steady defense with 30 digs. Chambers dished out 51 assists in this five-set thriller and was honored with her third AE Setter of the Week award for her performances over the weekend.
‘We played hard throughout the match; [The Bearcats] sort of getting that reputation of always fighting no matter what the score is, so they make some nice comebacks but we just couldn’t do it tonight,’ Kiriyama said.
With the split, two teams, BU and Albany, are now tied atop the standings at 5-2. The Bearcats have five matches left this season, four of which come against teams with losing conference records.
The Bearcats will stay at home this weekend as they are set to host UMBC at 6 p.m. Friday night.