VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Albany (13-8, 7-1 America East) battled back after dropping the first two sets and delivered a stinging 3-2 loss to Binghamton volleyball (4-17, 2-6 AE) Sunday afternoon at West Gymnasium. The Great Danes prevailed 24-26, 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-8.

The Bearcats jumped out of the gate quickly to take the first two sets. Senior hitter Erin Shultz put down seven kills in the first set (.412 hitting) and her final hammer broke a 24-24 tie. Freshman setter Kiara Adams then pushed over a quick attack for the deciding point in a 26-24 BU win. 

In the second set, BU jumped ahead 10-5 on the strength of four kills from senior hitter Gaby Alicea. The Bearcats led the whole way but Albany tightened the score to 22-20 late in the set. A Great Danes service error and attack error gave BU set point and junior libero Kim Lavender finished it off with an ace. Alicea had nine of her match-high 22 kills during the set. 

But in the third, Albany started to flex its muscle at the net with five blocks and UA limited BU to an .065 hitting percentage. The visitors jumped out to a 7-1 lead and never looked back. Binghamton brought it to within two, 13-11, midway through the set before Albany pulled away for the 25-18 win.  

In the fourth, the Danes broke away from a 16-16 tie and three late BU attack errors hurt the cause in a 25-22 loss.

Albany ran away early in the deciding fifth set, building an 8-2 cushion en route to a 15-8 final score.

"We hit well the first two sets but Albany started to block better and our hitters had a tougher time putting the ball away when we needed to," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "It's tough to fall behind a good team like that and try to make it up because they are so consistent. We made it close tonight ... I wish we could've played just a little bit better." 

Alicea added 16 digs to her 22 kills and Adams added 43 assists and 11 digs. Shultz wound up with 16 kills and nine digs.

Up next, Binghamton has two road matches next weekend, at New Hampshire on Friday and UMass Lowell on Sunday.