Box Score VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team had its four-match win streak snapped falling to first-place New Hampshire in four sets, Sunday afternoon in an America East matchup from West Gym. The Bearcats (8-17, 6-3 AE) still sit in second place in the league standings, but are now two games back of the defending champion Wildcats (15-11, 8-1 AE).
Binghamton, who wrapped up its 2014 home schedule, honored its three graduating seniors,
Amanda Dettmann,
Kristin Hovie and
Alexa Zbytniewski, prior to the match.
"I thought we played well at times and had our chances," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "You have to give credit to New Hampshire, they are a very good team. We struggled moving the ball and committed too many unforced errors. However, we will regroup and get ready for a tough road trip next weekend."
Binghamton was led by sophomore
Allison Hovie, who registered a team-high 18 kills. Dettmann recorded her fifth straight double-double with 34 assists and 15 digs.
Kristin Hovie eclipsed 1,000 career kills during the match tallying nine terminations against the Wildcats.
A stingy New Hampshire defense limited Binghamton to a .145 hitting clip, the lowest for the Bearcats in their last 10 matches. Binghamton stayed in the match thanks to its defense as well, recording 11 total team blocks and picking up 71 digs.
After dropping the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-14, the Bearcats hit a match-best .355 in the third frame to keep the game alive.
Allison Hovie connected on seven kills during the set helping Binghamton jump out to a 14-9 lead, forcing a UNH timeout. The Bearcats never looked back ending the set on a block by
Kristin Hovie and
Alexis LaGoy.
Binghamton maintained an early advantage throughout the fourth set, but a late rally by New Hampshire gave the Wildcats the victory, 25-22. A kill by
Megan Burgess handed the Bearcats a 16-12 lead, but four straight points by UNH evened the stanza at 16. Both teams traded blows before a pair of errors ended the Bearcats' afternoon.
New Hampshire leads the all-time series 15-12 with the Wildcats sweeping the season series after their five-set victory over the Bearcats on Oct. 3. UNH is now comfortably in first place with a two-game lead over BU with just three matches left. Binghamton holds a slim half-game lead over Stony Brook for second place. The two SUNY centers play on Long Island Friday night.
Binghamton hits the road for its final three matches of 2014. The Bearcats visit Stony Brook and Hartford next weekend before rounding out its season in Baltimore against UMBC on Nov. 14.
