VESTAL, N.Y. - Having already clinched a playoff spot, Binghamton volleyball (15-7, 6-2 America East) hosts longtime SUNY rival Albany (7-17, 2-5 AE) on Senior Day looking for a season split to keep its chances alive for a high tournament seed. Immediately following the match, BU will honor its lone senior, Victoria Erwat — a four-year letterwinner and honors student.

On Friday, BU hit .337 and won for the fourth time in five matches with a 3-0 sweep of visiting NJIT. Binghamton won 25-17, 25-14, 25-14. With the victory, BU clinched a top-four playoff spot for the upcoming America East Championship. Under first-year coach Allie Yaeger, BU will return to the postseason for the first time since reaching the title match in 2017. 

Junior hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva had 13 kills and didn't commit an error (.565) and freshman right-side hitter Giulia Bonifacio added 13 kills, five blocks and two aces. Junior Stefana Stan contributed 10 kills. Freshman setter Lottie Scully handed out 35 assists and classmate Madison Konopka collected seven digs and four aces. 

Albany has been idle since last Sunday, when it was swept by NJIT 3-0 in Newark. The Great Danes, who have won three regular season titles in the last five years, have uncharacteristically struggled this season and will need to make up ground to extend the program's string of 20 consecutive America East tournament appearances. Albany was picked second in the preseason poll (BU was fifth). The team ranks second in the conference in assists (11.7/set) and fourth in kills (12.3/set). Sophomore hitter Alexa Harris leads the team with 261 kills (3.07/set, 4th in AE).

Due to its recent surge, Albany holds a comfortable 32-15 lead in the all-time series and has won 14 of the last 16 head-to-head. 

Back on Oct. 21, the Great Danes rallied for a 29-27, 21-25, 17-25, 25-22, 15-9 win at Russell Sage College. In that match, BU led 2-1 and was three points away from the match when Albany rallied to take set four and force the decider. In the fifth, the Great Danes separated from a 5-5 tie with a 6-2 run. The teams traded points before a pair of Albany kills and a BU attack error ended the match. 

After today, BU closes out the regular season next Sunday at Bryant. Then the four-team America East Championship begins the following weekend. UMBC is in the driver's seat to host, but if Binghamton can gain one game in the standings, the seeding would turn to a tiebreak, which favors the Bearcats.