On paper, tonight’s first-round match between Binghamton and No. 2 Penn State looks like a mismatch.

The Bearcats (20-11) will head to PSU (29-2), the Big Ten champions, for a first-round NCAA Tournament game against the Nittany Lions at 7:30 p.m.

Binghamton is a significant underdog in this first-round contest, but for a team that was picked to not even make its conference playoffs, the NCAA Tournament appearance is everything they could have ever hoped for.

“I think it is important to note that it’s been a magical season for Binghamton,” said PSU head coach Russ Rose. “That is what makes the NCAA Tournament special for teams.”

Second-ranked Penn State clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the 25th straight year by going undefeated (20-0) in the Big Ten this season and winning its conference tournament. They boast a whopping eight players over 6’1”, including 6’5” middle blocker Cassy “Big Girl” Salyer.

Binghamton, an up-and-coming team in the America East, completed its Cinderella season by beating Stony Brook in the conference championship last Sunday. The Bearcats will make their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament since moving up to the Division I level in 2001.

Looking at the tournament as a whole, Penn State has a significant chance to win the national title. Top-seeded Nebraska (28-1) and perennial power No. 5 Stanford (25-5) are also popular choices, but for the Bearcats, the chance to play on a national stage is beneficial on all kinds of levels.

Before America East play begins in October, each team plays an out-of-conference schedule that includes some “easy” games and some “tough” games. This year, Binghamton took on “tough” opponents like San Diego State, Cornell, Yale and Syracuse, but the Nittany Lions will be far and away the toughest team they’ve ever played, allowing the young, senior-less team an opportunity to see how much they can improve their games.

“We’re looking forward to see Penn State play in person, and to go up against that competition,” said BU head coach Glenn Kiriyama. “It’ll be a good learning experience for us and we just hope we can fare well.”

Just as important, making the NCAA Tournament will help Kiriyama, as well as coaches in other sports, bring in stronger recruits. In just its fifth year as a Division-I program, the volleyball team’s appearance marks BU’s eighth since 2003.

The prospects for the future bode well for BU, but perhaps the best part of it all is the satisfaction of a lifetime of work coming true. “This is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a little girl,” said sophomore middle blocker Jacki Kane. “Literally, I dreamed about going to the NCAA Tournament.”

But for Kiriyama, the ultimate goal is to make reaching the national tournament a habit.

“Hopefully the girls will enjoy the experience,” said Kiriyama, “and it will drive them to want to return to the tournament next year.”