VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton volleyball (12-6, 3-1 America East) won for the fifth time in seven matches, rolling over visiting Bryant (12-9, 2-2 AE) in straight sets Friday night at West Gym. The Bearcats won 25-15, 25-23, 25-23 and improved to 3-1 in America East play, taking over sole possession of second place.

Freshman hitter Giulia Bonifacio registered a double-double with match-highs of 13 kills and 12 digs and junior hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva added her own double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Senior middle Anna Sprys hit .412 (8 kills) with five blocks and freshman setter Lottie Scully handed out 36 assists. 

The Bulldogs, who won the NEC regular season title last year before moving to the America East, were making their first-ever visit to West Gym. Bryant played tight second and third sets but were ultimately undone by 27 attack errors (.017).

"I knew this match would be really tough," head coach Allie Yaeger said. "Bryant is very experienced ... they've played together a lot and they know how to win. They are a feisty group and we knew if we didn't match their intensity it would be very hard. But we came out and executed and held them to a low hitting percentage. We were able to close out the last two sets, which were tight. I'm proud of the girls."

In the opening set, BU led 16-14 before closing with a 9-1 run that featured late kills by Sprys and junior hitter Stefana Stan. Bonifacio had four kills in the set and Bryant compiled 11 attack errors to aid the cause.

In the second set, there were 13 ties and five lead changes, and BU trailed 23-22 before Ilieva put down back-to-back kills to give the Bearcats a 24-23 lead. A Bulldogs attack error on set point gave BU the 2-0 lead. Ilieva wound up with seven kills in the set and the Bearcats hit .256 as a team.

In the final set, BU used a 7-2 run to break away from a 13-13 tie. Up 20-15, however, BU surrendered their own 7-2 run to the visitors, who tied it at 22-22. But two Bryant attack errors and a putaway from Bonifacio finished the sweep. Bonifacio had five kills in the set and Stan chipped in four.

The Bearcats will stay at home to face New Hampshire at 1 p.m. Sunday at West Gym. Binghamton will look for the season sweep of the Wildcats after posting a 3-0 win in Durham two weeks ago.