The Binghamton University volleyball team dropped two matches on Sunday in Newark, N.J. to cap off America East pod play this weekend. The Bearcats fell to the University of New Hampshire in five sets, 20-25, 26-24, 25-23, 16-25, 12-15, before dropping the nightcap to New Jersey Institute of Technology, 20-25, 15-25, 25-23, 22-25.

Stefana Stan led the offense in the two matches with 27 kills and 4 service aces. Francela Ulate was close behind Stan with 25 kills. Elis Gadelha returned to action in the NJIT matchup, and chipped in 10 kills. 

The defense was led by Tyra Wilson, who recorded 8 blocks, including six against the Highlanders. Setter Emma Rainville dished out 72 total assists, and led the team with 18 digs over the two matches. 

Trailing 17-12 in the first set against UNH, the Bearcats used a five point scoring run, including a kill by Stan to tie the game. However, the Wildcats responded by scoring eight of the next eleven points on the way to taking the set. 

Binghamton had two separate five point runs in the second set, but UNH was able to battle back and knot the score at 24. Ulate then took over, recording a kill and a block on back-to-back plays to help the Bearcats take the set. 

Ulate had four kills and two service aces in the third, and Binghamton was able to close out the set after a kill by Stephanie Gatto and an ace by Emily Rail.  

Binghamton led 9-7 in the fourth set, but the Wildcats immediately scored fourteen of the next sixteen points, and were able to force a fifth set. 

Trailing 14-10 in the tiebreaker, the Bearcats cut the deficit in half with two consecutive kills by Stan, but UNH scored the next point to earn the victory. 

Against NJIT, Ulate had four kills in Binghamton's first six points of the match, but the Highlanders still led 10-6. Later in the set, a kill by Stan brought the Bearcats to within two points at 22-20, but were unable to get any closer than that, as NJIT took the opening set.

NJIT took control of the second set with seven of the first eight points, and the Bearcats were only able to pull within five points as the Highlanders opened up a two set lead. 

The Bearcats responded by taking the third set, led by six kills by Stan, and three kills each by Wilson and Gadelha.

Binghamton held a 21-20 advantage in the fourth set behind four kills by Ulate and Gadelha. However, the Highlanders took five of the next six points to win the match.  

The Bearcats will head back home next Sunday to host Stony Brook in a America East doubleheader to close out the regular season.