VESTAL, N.Y.- The Binghamton volleyball team will host Albany on Friday, September 23. The match marks the 2016 home and conference opener, as well as kicking off homecoming weekend at the university.
 
Coach Glenn Kiriyama, in his 18^th season, will look to guide the Bearcats to the postseason for the 10^th time in 12 years. BU has a 6-7 record, its most successful non-conference slate since 2011. Binghamton went 2-1 at the Brown Invitational last weekend, winning, 3-1, at Brown and sweeping Central Connecticut State. Junior Kristella Morina and sophomore Erin Shultz were both named to the all-tournament team.
 
Freshman Lauren Kornmann paces the Bearcats with 143.5 points this season. Shultz is next with 122 points, while Gaby Alicea has tallied 121.5 points in 13 matches. Sarah Ngo has generated 426 assists and 106 digs and senior Bailey Walker has recorded 215 digs, good for second in the America East.
 
The Great Danes are 6-6, having won all three of their matches at the West Point Invitational last weekend, defeating Connecticut, St. John's, and Army. Senior Laini Leindecker was named tournament MVP, while Nicole Otero joined her on the all-tournament team.
 
In 2016, Leindecker tops the roster with 159.5 points in 12 outings. Otero leads the conference with 235 digs, while the Mikala McCauley-Kelly Cameron setter duo has combined for 428 assists on the year.
 
Last season, Albany tied with New Hampshire for the America East regular season title. The Danes were voted to win the conference in this season's coaches' poll. BU was picked to place fourth-the same spot they finished in the 2015 campaign.
 
The teams have split their last eight meetings. Last season, Albany pulled out a 3-2 win at the West Gym. Ngo led Binghamton with 49 assists and 20 digs, while Walker produced 26 digs. Alicea put up 16 kills and 19 digs in the match. McCauley led the Great Danes with 44 assists and 12 digs.