After upsetting No. 1-seed University at Albany in straight sets to clinch the America East Conference championship, the Binghamton University volleyball team is scheduled to face Pennsylvania State University in the NCAA tournament on Friday. The Nittany Lions rank No. 1 nationally with a 27-2 record.
The 64-team bracket was announced over the weekend in a 30-minute selection show aired on ESPNU.
This will mark the third time Binghamton has faced Penn State in as many tournament appearances. The Nittany Lions, who have won five national championships, disposed of Binghamton (13-17, 8-4 AE) the last time the teams met in the first round of the 2009 tournament en route to that year’s title. The Nittany Lions swept the Bearcats in 2005 and 2009.
“It’s fun playing the top seed,” Binghamton head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. “It’s fun to see how we stack up against the best. We’re looking forward to the opportunity and we’re going to play them the best that we can.”
The winner of Friday’s tilt will play the winner of the first round match between Yale University and Bowling Green State University next weekend.
Binghamton’s first round match is set for 7:30 p.m. in University Park, Pa.