VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton volleyball looks to strengthen its postseason standing when the Bearcats (4-17, 2-6 America East) play two road matches this weekend. Binghamton faces third-place New Hampshire (10-13, 6-3 AE) Friday night in Durham and then meets UMass Lowell (1-8 AE) Sunday afternoon in Mass.

Binghamton has four regular season matches remaining and likely needs at least a split to move into a top-four playoff position. The Bearcats currently sit in a tie for fifth place, but are just a half-game out of the fourth and final postseason spot. Historically the fourth team typically emerges from a tiebreaker procedure. 

Senior hitter Gaby Alicea has 1,161 career kills and has moved up to No. 4 on BU's all-time kills list. With her second kill this weekend she will take over the No. 3 position. Alicea, the reigning America East Player of the Year, ranks second in the conference in kills (3.54/set) and points (4.05/set). She also is ninth in digs (3.01/set).

Sophomore libero Samantha Gioiosa is fifth in digs (3.64/set) and freshman setter Kiara Adams is sixth in assists (7.86/set).  

New Hampshire is firmly planted in the No. 3 playoff position with three matches remaining. The Wildcats have blanked conference opponents five times in nine matches and have only lost to league-leading Stony Brook (twice) and second-place Albany. New Hampshire ranks second in the America East in kills and assists and fourth in hitting percentage. Leading hitter Gabri Olhava is fourth in kills (3.2/set) and hitting percentage (.288). 

The Wildcats beat BU 3-1 at West Gym on Oct. 7 and lead the all-time series 22-16, despite the Bearcats taking all three matches last season. 

UMass Lowell is in last place in the standings and hosts UMBC on Friday before the Bearcats come to town Sunday. The River Hawks' lone conference win came against UMBC.

Binghamton posted a 3-0 win in the first meeting back on Oct. 5 at West Gym. The Bearcats lead the all-time series 14-0.