VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton volleyball (4-15, 2-4 America East) begins the second half of conference play when the Bearcats host UMBC (5-15, 1-5 AE) at 7 p.m. Friday at West Gym. It will be a rare home match for the Bearcats, who have played 17 of 19 matches away from home this fall.    

The Bearcats have dropped three straight but do own a five-set win over UMBC in the first meeting between the two teams, back on Sept. 21 in Baltimore. Binghamton, in a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot, can complete the season-sweep of the Retrievers with a win.

Senior hitter Gaby Alicea ranks second in the conference in kills (3.49/set) and points (3.96/set). She is also ninth in digs (2.93/set). Sophomore defensive specialist Samantha Gioiosa is fifth in digs (3.76/set) and freshman setter Kiara Adams is fifth in assists (7.83/set). Senior hitter Erin Shultz is ninth in points per set (3.06). 

UMBC has split its last two matches, beating Hartford 3-2 on Friday before dropping a 3-0 decision to Stony Brook on Sunday. Carmen Freeman is third in the conference in kills (3.28) and Paola Rojas is third in hitting percentage (.324). Rojas also leads the league with 1.04 blocks per set. Setter Krytsia Negron is fourth with 9.06 assists per set. 

Binghamton leads the all-time series 21-13 but UMBC has won four of the last seven matchups. Back on Sept. 21 in the AE opener for both teams, BU withstood a Retrievers rally and posted a 3-2 win. After winning the first two sets, the Bearcats dropped the third and fourth before pulling out a 15-13 final-set win. Alicea lead Binghamton with 15 kills and 18 digs and Shultz added 11 kills and 14 digs. Gioiosa posted 19 digs and Adams recorded a career-high 38 assists.