MATCH INFORMATION
MATCH #17: Binghamton at Albany
MATCH TIME: Friday, Sept. 26, 2014; 7 p.m. 
MATCH SITE: University Gymnasium (Albany, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Albany leads, 21-9
LAST MEETING: Binghamton won, 3-0; Oct. 26, 2013
2014 RECORDS: Binghamton (2-14); Albany (2-10)

VESTAL, N.Y. – Riding a bit of momentum, the Binghamton volleyball team begins America East play Friday night against longtime SUNY rival Albany. The Bearcats, (2-14) who snapped a seven-match losing streak after sweeping Cornell Wednesday night, and the Great Danes are set for a 7 p.m. first serve from University Gymnasium in the state's capital.

Prior to last season, Binghamton and Albany combined for the previous nine America East titles (Albany 6, Binghamton 3). Last season, each team earned straight-set victories on their home courts. The two SUNY institutions have met in the America East title match three times in the past six years. Albany holds a 21-9 advantage in head-to-head matchups since 2001.

Binghamton is playing its 17th straight match away from home and won't step on its home floor until October 10. The Bearcats are 2-4 in true road contests in 2014. Binghamton is making its second trip to the Capital District in 2014, as the Bearcats earned a straight set victory at Siena on Sept. 9.

BINGHAMTON OUTLOOK
The Bearcats are coming off a straight set victory over Cornell earlier in the week, ending a seven-match skid that began on Sept. 13. Binghamton made the quick trip to Ithaca and handed the Big Red its sixth loss of the season. Cornell recently defeated Albany in four sets at the Syracuse Invitational on Sept. 21.

Sophomore Allison Hovie returned to the lineup and ignited Binghamton to the sweep of Cornell with a match-high 13 kills while adding nine digs. Hovie played for the first time in two weeks missing the Bearcats' final two preseason tournaments. The 2013 All-Rookie selection last played in Binghamton's victory over Siena. Junior Megan Burgess added 12 kills on a .462 hitting percentage. Senior setter Amanda Dettmann handed out a match-high 35 assists to go along with her eight digs.

Binghamton ranks among the top four in the conference in service aces (3rd, 1.43 sa/s), kills (4th, 10.96 k/s), assists (4th, 10.20 a/s) and digs (4th, 13.71). However, Binghamton is still allowing a conference-high .258 hitting percentage. The Bearcats limited Cornell to a .104 attack percentage (2nd lowest of season - .086 vs. Siena), including a zero hitting clip in sets two and three.

Burgess' consistent plays has her sitting among the top 10 in the league in hitting percentage (5th, .268) and kills (6th, 2.75 k/s). Hovie ranks third in the conference and leads the Bearcats with 2.90 kills per set while freshman Alexis LaGoy has a team-high .296 hitting percentage which also ranks third in the America East. Dettmann is averaging 8.65 assists per set and sophomore libero Bailey Walker is picking up 4.38 digs per set, both good for fourth in the league.

SCOUTING ALBANY
The Great Danes are currently riding a five-match losing streak after dropping all three of their matches at the Syracuse Invitational to Cornell, Colgate and the host Orange. Albany's two wins came against Boston College (Sept. 5) and UC Riverside (Sept. 12), both coming in five sets. The Great Danes experience in five-set matches (2-2 in 2014) could prove pivotal as the Bearcats have yet to play a match that has gone the distance.

Sophomore Laini Leindecker is the team's leading offensive threat, holding team-highs with 133 kills and 11 aces, adding 145 digs.  Classmate Olivia Schonewise has 101 kills and 72 digs, while junior middle Tatum Jungsten is the team's top blocker with 46 total blocks, also having 52 kills.  UAlbany sports the top defensive player in the conference, with senior libero Viktoriia Stroilo leading the league with 4.92 digs per set, totaling 182.

UP NEXT
Binghamton is off for a week before they continue its two-month long road trip by heading to New Hampshire on Oct. 3. The Bearcats and defending America East champions Wildcats are scheduled for a 7 p.m. first serve in Durham. Binghamton then heads to UMass Lowell for a match with the River Hawks on Sunday, Oct. 5.