VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton volleyball team (7-11, 2-2) gets set to host America East opponent New Hampshire (8-9, 2-2) Friday at 6 p.m.

The match is the Bearcats' Green Day Friday Match, where fans are encouraged to wear green and show off their Bearcat pride. Admission to all of Binghamton's home matches this season are free on behalf of Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP.

INSIDE THE SERIES VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE

• The Wildcats lead the all-time series 29-21.
• In their last 10 matches, the two sides sit at 5-5 with Binghamton winning the most recent contest 3-2 on Nov. 10, 2024 at the Events Center.

 
LAST TIME OUT ON THE COURT
Binghamton was defeated by Bryant 3-0 on Oct. 12, snapping a two-match winning streak for the Bearcats. Maya Coblentz-Brown, Viktoria Dimitrova and Merima Smajlovic led Binghamton with seven kills each, while Emily Cronkhite posted a game-high 15 digs.
 
WHERE WE STAND IN THE AMERICA EAST
With less than a month to go in the regular season, the Bearcats sit in a three-way tie with New Hampshire and UAlbany for third place in the America East Conference. Each team holds a league record of 2-2. All three teams sit one game behind Bryant and UMBC, who are tied for first place with a league record of 3-1. The top four teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the America East Volleyball Championship.
 
APPROACHING A CAREER HIGH
Merima Smajlovic enters Friday's match with a team-high 236 kills in 67 sets played this season. The outside hitter needs eight kills to set a new career high for kills in a season. Her current career high is 243 kills, which she recorded in 97 sets at Seattle in 2024. Smajlovic ranks third in the America East in kills per set at 3.52. The senior also has recorded two of the most kills in a three-set match among all America East players this season. Smajlovic's largest total came against Mercyhurst on Sept. 12, when she recorded 17.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Alexandra Koleva remains among the top players in the America East when it comes to getting assists. The graduate setter ranks fourth in the league in assists per set at 6.34 registering 425 assists across 67 sets played. Against Bryant on Sunday, Koleva recorded a team-high 24 assists, making it the third match in a row she has recorded at least that many. Koleva has contributed to Binghamton having the most assists per set among all America East teams at 11.81.

WE HAVE SOMEONE THERE
Against America East opponents, Emily Cronkhite leads the league in digs per set at 5.07, registering 76 across 15 sets played. Overall, the libero/defensive specialist ranks fourth in the conference at 3.75 digs per set, recording 244 across 65 sets played.
 
LOCKING IN
During Head Volleyball Coach Allie Yaeger's tenure at Binghamton, the Bearcats have done exceptionally well in the final third of the regular season. In the last three seasons, Binghamton is 16-5 when playing in one of its final seven matches of the season, with 14 of those victories coming against America East opponents.