VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton volleyball notched its first win of the season, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore in five sets. Despite falling down two sets to one, BU rallied for the 25-13, 22-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-7 win. The win was head coach Allie Yeager's first as head coach of the Bearcats.

"We've been waiting so long for this day," Yeager said. "To not only win, but win in five (sets) teaches us to never stop fighting. They worked so hard for this moment and it's just a great way to kick off the season."

Tsvetelina Ilieva and Giulia Bonifacio had 16 and 13 kills respectively to lead the offense. Freshman libero Madison Konopka had 20 digs in her collegiate debut. Senior middle blocker Anna Sprys helped contribute to six blocks.

The Bearcats dominated the first set, taking a 10-1 advantage early on. The Hawks battled back, but were unable to get any closer than 21-12. Binghamton took four of the final five points, including a kill and ace by Sprys. The team did not have a single error in the frame.

Maryland Eastern Shore battled back, taking the next two sets. In the second set, Binghamton led 13-9 following a kill by Bonifacio, but a 10-3 run by the Hawks turned the tides. Two more Bonifacio kills cut it to a 24-22 deficit before the final point was registered by the visitors to tie up the match. A key 7-1 run late in the third set put that frame out of reach and the Bearcats trailed two sets to one.

A back-and-forth fourth set went down to the wire. With the score tied at 20, three straight key points for Binghamton were vital to forcing a fifth set. Ilieva, Bonifacio and Stefana Stan each had a kill over that stretch and another Bonifacio kill finalized the frame at 25-22.

Ilieva put her mark on the fifth set, notching three more kills to her stat line. The Bearcats ran away with it, scoring eight of the match's final 10 points, winning on an attack error by the Hawks.

Stan (nine) and Victoria Erwat (eight) combined for 17 kills on the day. Lottie Scully and Jessie Bilello had 22 assists apiece. 

Binghamton will continue play at the Bearcat Classic Saturday. BU will take on Boston College at 1:30 p.m. and Siena at 7 p.m.