Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Binghamton volleyball team dropped a pair of matches at the Best Western Wild Weekend Tournament hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Friday from Hythe Athletic Center in Princess Anne, Md. The Bearcats fell in straight sets to MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) members Bethune-Cookman and the host Wildcats. Binghamton continues play in the Chesapeake Bay area tomorrow against Rider and Campbell.

In the final match of day one, Binghamton was overwhelmed by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). The Bearcats were limited to a .062 hitting percentage while the Wildcats held a 40-23 advantage in kills.

"We were outplayed tonight by a better team," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "Unfortunately, time is running out (in non-conference schedule), so we have to get better quickly. We know what we need to work on…it's just a matter of executing. I don't think we are too far away, but we need to become more consistent. I did see some good things today but we just couldn't sustain anything."

Binghamton fell behind midway through the first set, but battled back to pull within one of UMES following a kill from freshman Alexis LaGoy. The Bearcats were able to level the frame at 17, erasing a six-point deficit after a Wildcat error, but UMES countered to open a five-point cushion late in the stanza. Binghamton battled off three set-points, tying the set one more time before succumbing to the hosts, 26-24.

The Bearcats jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the second set before the Wildcats climbed back to even the frame at 10. A 5-0 run by UMES helped the host open a 15-10 lead, eventually extending its lead to seven. UMES held Binghamton to a match low .000 hitting clip en route to the 25-18 victory in the second set.

In the third set, Binghamton fought UMES early in the frame before falling behind 14-8 after a 6-0 run by the Wildcats. The Bearcats were unable to find any traction in the final set as UMES maintained its lead throughout the stanza. Binghamton committed seven attack errors while UMES generated 13 points off kills to take the third set 25-16.

Junior Megan Burgess recorded a team-high eight kills adding five digs and three blocks. Senior setter Amanda Dettmann handed out 17 assists while sophomore Kelly Leach chipped in five kills and six digs.
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BETHUNE-COOKMAN 3, BINGHAMTON 0

In its opening match of the Best Western Wild Weekend Tournament hosted by the University Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), the Binghamton volleyball team fell in straight sets to Bethune-Cookman, The Bearcats were swept for first time in their last eight matches Friday afternoon at the Hytche Athletic Center, dropping to 1-11 on the season.  Binghamton continues action tonight at 7 p.m. against the host Hawks.

Despite hitting a respectable .216 and a slim margin in kills, Binghamton was unable to generate enough offense down the stretch defeat a Bethune-Cookman team that earned just its second win of the season. The Bearcats connected 35 kills, two fewer than the Wildcats. BC managed a .278 hitting clip en route to its victory of the day.

"I felt like we were never really in the match," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "We never really got going and struggled handling the ball on our side. Our passing needs to be a lot sharper and more efficient. We are working through some tough times right now and we will have to play much better to have a different outcome tomorrow."

Junior right side Megan Burgess led the Bearcats with a team-high 11 kills. Senior Kristin Hovie and sophomore Kelly Leach each added seven terminations. Binghamton's leading hitter, sophomore Allison Hovie (2.71 k/s) sat out her fourth consecutive game due to an injury.

Bethune-Cookman eased out to an early lead in the opening set, but a Burgess kill trimmed the deficit ton one. The Wildcats countered with a 6-0 run to break open the set. The Bearcats trailed by as many as 10, before a late 5-0 run completed the frame 25-19. Burgess finished with four terminations in the first set, but Bethune-Cookman committed just one attack error compiling a .333 hitting percentage.

The second set was tied seven times before the Wildcats pushed out to an 18-12 lead thanks to a 6-2 run. Binghamton limited its attack errors, committing just three during the set, but a 16-10 kill advantage led Bethune-Cookman to a 2-0 lead, 25-17. Hovie and Leach accounted for six of the Bearcats' kills in the frame.

Burgess opened the final set with a kill, but that was the last lead Binghamton would hold as Bethune-Cookman maintained a two-point edge throughout the set. Each team recorded 13 kills in the set, but the Wildcats were more consistent in the serve-receive game. Binghamton misfired on nine service attempts while Bethune-Cookman connected on eight aces in the match. The Wildcats won the third set 25-19 to earn their first straight-set victory of the season.

Bethune-Cookman was powerful at the net possessing a commanding 8.5-3.0 block advantage. Five different Wildcats registered at least one total block.

Senior setter Amanda Dettmann finished the match with 31 assists and four kills. Sophomore libero Bailey Walker recorded a match-high 18 digs for the Bearcats, who held a 38-36 advantag