VESTAL, N.Y. – Playing on Halloween night, the Binghamton volleyball team was able to spook the competition as the Bearcats (10-12, 4-3 America East) got a crucial 3-1 victory against in-state rival UAlbany (12-10, 5-3 America East) Friday at the Events Center.
 
Viktoria Dimitrova posted a career-high 21 kills to lead all players, while Maya Coblentz-Brown and Merima Smajlovic added 15 and 13 respectively. Regan Kadel also set a new career high with 52 assists, the second-most of any America East player in a match this season. Emily Cronkhite, meanwhile, added 24 digs in what was the Bearcats' fifth win in their last seven matches.
 
"Everybody contributed," said Binghamton Head Volleyball Coach Allie Yaeger. "We won the serve and pass game tonight, which is huge against a team like UAlbany, who's such a great serving team."
 
Just like in the previous matchup between the two teams on Sept. 26, Binghamton was able to take a 19-14 lead in the first set. In similar fashion to before, UAlbany rallied, tying the frame up at 22 as the Great Danes once again looked to complete the comeback and take the opening frame. However, after a timeout, Binghamton countered with three unanswered points, including a kill from both Coblentz-Brown and Smajlovic, to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
The second set would be a back-and-forth battle, with neither team leading by more than three points. With UAlbany leading 24-23 and facing set point, Kadel set up Francesca Pierdonati with the kill to extend the frame. After UAlbany moved ahead 25-24, Binghamton responded with three-straight points, completed with a service ace by Kadel to extend the Bearcats' lead to 2-0.
 
The Great Danes, who entered the night in first place and needing a win to secure a spot in the America East Volleyball Championship, fought back in the third set. UAlbany built their lead throughout the frame, eventually leading 19-12. Binghamton then went on a 4-0 run to close the gap to 19-16, but the Bearcats were unable to catch the Great Danes in the set, as UAlbany won it 25-19.
 
Looking to avoid going to a fifth set, Binghamton got out to a 9-4 lead in the fourth, thanks in part to four kills each from Coblentz-Brown and Smajlovic. UAlbany countered Binghamton to bring the set to a 12-12 tie, before the Bearcats forged ahead on a 5-0 run to retake the lead 17-12.
 
Eventually, the Bearcats got their lead to 24-20, needing one more point to win the match. But the Great Danes went on a 4-0 tie the frame and extend it further. Binghamton would be undeterred, however, as Dimitrova helped push the Bearcats ahead 25-24 with her 21st kill of the night. With match point once again in their sights, Dimitrova then got a much-needed dig after she dove to keep the ball in the air with one hand. Cronkhite then bumped the ball to the end of the net, where Coblentz-Brown leaped in the air and spiked the ball for the match-ending kill.
 
"This was a huge step forward for this program tonight," said Yaeger.
 
Binghamton continues its push to qualify for the America East Volleyball Championship as the Bearcats play at NJIT at 1 p.m., on Sunday.
 
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.