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HighlightsHAMILTON, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team opened its season with a four-set loss to St. John's at the Colgate Classic, Friday afternoon at Cotterell Court. The Bearcats, who were held to a .186 hitting percentage, dropped the first two sets 25-12 and 25-19 before battling back in the third frame 25-22. Binghamton rallied from a five-point deficit multiple times in the fourth set, but eventually dropped the frame 25-22.
"For the first match of the season I thought we did a lot of good things out there," head coach
Glenn Kiriyama said. "It was a learning experience for us and we know we still have several things to work on. But it was good to see some of our freshmen have solid outings as well as our returners. We'll get back to work and prepare for two more tough matches tomorrow."
Allison Hovie had a strong debut in a Bearcat uniform, leading Binghamton with 12 kills and a .393 hitting percentage. The freshman from Neenah, Wisconsin also picked up 10 digs for her first career double-double. Junior
Kristin Hovie, older sister of Allison, also posted double-digit terminations with 10. Junior setter
Amanda Dettmann handed out 30 assists for the Bearcats.
After winning the first set 25-12, St. John's carried its momentum into the second, racing out to a 5-1 lead early in the frame. However, Binghamton battled back to pull within one following a kill by
Grace Vickers. The Red Storm again stretched its cushion back to four on several occasions, but the Bearcats did not back down. Three kills from
Allison Hovie ignited a 7-2 Binghamton run and gave the Bearcats a 17-16, forcing a St. John's time out. Unfazed, the Red Storm won nine of the next 11 points, capturing the set 25-19.
Displaying their resiliency, the Bearcats climbed out of an early deficit in the third set to even the stanza at 10 following a service ace from
Allison Hovie. From there the set would be tied nine more times, but the Bearcats eventually broke through taking a 20-19 lead.
Allison Hovie helped Binghamton put the set away, 25-22, with three late kills. The Bearcats held the Red Storm to a .152 hitting percentage during the frame, their lowest of the match.
St. John's look poised to take the fourth set with ease, pushing out to a 10-5 lead. Binghamton stayed the course however, as a pair of kills by Vickers and
Kristin Hovie evened the set at 15. St. John's regained the lead thanks to multiple Binghamton errors. The Bearcats had their best hitting percentage in the frame, .394, but fell 25-22.
Binghamton was hard pressed to control the net as St. John's collected nine blocks compared to the Bearcats' two. The Red Storm also had a solid match serving, picking up nine service aces opposed to two by Binghamton. The Bearcats fell to 4-2 all-time against St. John's.
Binghamton continues its play at the Colgate Classic with a pair of matches tomorrow afternoon. The Bearcats will face Central Connecticut State at 2 p.m. before playing host Colgate at 5 p.m.
