VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting UMBC (15-7, 6-3 America East) prevailed in two tight sets to open the match and the Retrievers fended off Binghamton (12-12, 6-4 AE), 3-1 Friday night at West Gym. In a battle between teams separated by just a half-game in the conference standings, UMBC completed its season sweep of BU by scores of 26-24, 25-21, 16-25, 25-21.

The loss snapped BU's four-match win streak but the Bearcats still clinched a postseason spot with Albany's win over Stony Brook. Binghamton, now in fourth place, will be making its 10th appearance in the America East tournament in the last 12 years under head coach Glenn Kiriyama.

The Retrievers jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the opening set before BU picked up its game. Sophomore hitter Gaby Alicea combined a kill with back-to-back aces to lift the Bearcats into an 18-18 tie. A UMBC attack error gave BU a 20-19 edge but a BU service error followed by back-to-back Retrievers aces turned the tide back toward the visitors. Another Alicea kill off a feed from junior setter Sarah Ngo brought BU back even at 24-24 but a service error and subsequent UMBC kill ended the first frame.

In the second, BU jumped out to a 5-0 lead and led 20-16 before faltering. Binghamton still led 23-22 before three straight UMBC kills closed out a 9-3 run and gave the second set to the Retrievers. Alicea and sophomore Erin Shultz had four kills apiece to pace the offense but UMBC countered by hitting .310.

Binghamton got on the board with a comfortable win in the third set. With the score tied at 13-13, BU used a 9-0 run to pull away. Shultz had four more kills and freshman hitter Lauren Kornmann ended the set with a kill.

The fourth set was even at 17-17 before a pair of costly BU service errors turned the tide. A kill from senior middle Bianca Anderson brought the Bearcats to within one, 19-18, but another service error and two straight UMBC kills extended the gap. The Retrievers hit .419 in the decisive set.

Alicea wound up with 13 kills, five aces and two blocks. Shultz and junior middle Kristella Morina had 12 kills apiece. Ngo racked up 46 assists.

The Bearcats host Stony Brook on Senior Night Saturday night. Seniors Kasey Muchnicki, Allison Hovie, Bailey Walker, Bianca Anderson and Kelly Leach will be honored before the 7 p.m. match.