VESTAL, N.Y. - After an eight-day layoff, Binghamton volleyball (13-7, 4-2 America East) will get another shot at undefeated, conference-leading UMBC (13-5, 6-0 AE) Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. The match between 1-2 in the standings begins at 1 p.m. at UMBC's Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. 

The Bearcats are looking to rebound from a 3-2 setback at Albany in their last outing on Oct. 21. That loss tightened the standings, allowing Bryant to grab a share of second place with BU, with four matches remaining in the regular season. Binghamton and Bryant have a two-game cushion on fourth-place UNH and Albany, with unbeaten UMBC (6-0) leading the way.

Junior hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva continues to lead the Bearcats in kills (3.7/set) and aces (28). She ranks third in the America East in kills and fourth in aces. Ilieva has produced five double-doubles and has eight matches with 15 or more kills. Freshman right side Giulia Bonifacio leads all rookies in offense (3.0 kills/set) and also has five double-doubles. She ranks fourth in overall points (3.63/set), fifth in kills and eighth in both attack percentage (.264) and digs (2.45/set). Freshman setter Lottie Scully is second in the conference in assists (8.51/set) and is coming off a season-high 52 in the Albany match. Scully has nine double-doubles. Senior blocker Anna Sprys leads the America East in blocks (1.28/set) and is fourth in hitting percentage (.312). Junior teammate Stephanie Gatto is second in blocks 1.20). 

UMBC is coming off a 3-1 win over NJIT on Friday to remain unbeaten. The two-time reigning conference champion Retrievers have won 23 consecutive matches against America East opponents dating back to the 2020 season. UMBC has been extended to five sets twice recently - by the Bearcats on Oct. 7 in Vestal and at New Hampshire last Sunday. The Retrievers are riding an eight-match win streak and haven't lost in more than six weeks. 

The Retrievers have won eight straight head-to-head to take a 23-18 lead in the all-time series with Binghamton. The last BU win was a 3-2 road win in 2018.