VESTAL, N.Y. – On the first day of the Binghamton Invitational, the Binghamton volleyball team defended its home floor by taking down both Canisius and Mercyhurst in straight sets Friday at the Events Center.
The Bearcats first defeated Mercyhurst 25-19, 27-25 and 25-19 to open the tournament on Friday morning. Then, to close out the day, the Bearcats beat Canisius 25-16, 25-9 and 25-19. The nine points Binghamton allowed in the second set against Canisius are the fewest it has given up in a set so far this season.
"I'm very proud of the team with our overall performance," said Binghamton Head Volleyball Coach
Allie Yaeger. "Our in-system serve/receive led to our setting distribution, which led to our .392 percent hitting efficiency. We won the serve and pass game, which is always one of our main goals."
In her first two matches of the season, America East Preseason All-Conference selection
Viktoria Dimitrova made a triumphant return for the Bearcats, posting a combined 19 kills, six block assists and five digs.
Merima Smajlovic, meanwhile, had 31 kills, 17 digs, three block assists and two service aces between both matches. Against Mercyhurst, Smajlovic set season highs in kills (17), points (19) and total blocks (2). Just days after being named Rookie of the Week by the America East Conference on Tuesday,
Maya Coblentz-Brown followed up the honor by putting up 16 kills, three block assists and one assist combined on Friday.
Binghamton 3 Mercyhurst 0
Binghamton was able to build a lead throughout the early portion of the first set, eventually going up 16-10. After the Lakers went on a 4-1 run to bring it to 17-14, Binghamton recovered to maintain the lead, never letting Mercyhurst get closer than within four points before the Bearcats ultimately took the first set.
The second set proved to be the most challenging one of the day for the Bearcats, with the Lakers jumping out to a 6-2 advantage. Binghamton fought back thanks in part to three kills by Dimitrova, before grabbing its first lead of the set at 9-8. Mercyhurst quickly retook the lead and stayed ahead for much of the frame, ultimately holding a 19-14 lead. Binghamton then scored the five points, with two kills coming from
Briana Binagi, to tie it up at 19. Mercyhurst eventually went ahead 25-24, before a kill by Dimitrova extended the set. Binagi then recorded two kills in a row to give Binghamton the set and a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, Smajlovic posted 10 of her 17 kills, helping the Bearcats lead the majority of the set en route to their first sweep of the day. Binghamton finished the match with a season-high six service aces as a team, with four coming from
Alexandra Koleva.
Binghamton 3 Canisius 0
After several hours off, Binghamton returned to the court for the final match of the night against in-state rival Canisius. With an 18-14 lead in the opening set, the Bearcats put up five-consecutive points to pull away from the Golden Griffins, eventually winning the first set.
Set two would be Binghamton's most dominant of the season so far. The Bearcats opened the set by taking nine of the first 10 points. Canisius never got closer than 10-4, as Binghamton eventually closed out the set on an 11-2 run to win it. In each of the first two sets, the Bearcats hit .433 as a team.
Canisius challenged Binghamton in the third set, trying to extend the match. Tied at six, Binghamton recorded the next four points to move up 10-6. Another 4-0 run followed after the Golden Griffins brought it to 11-8. Canisius eventually got within two points at 20-18, but another 4-0 run by the Bearcats solidified their lead before Binghamton clinched the match.
Up Next
The Bearcats wrap up the Binghamton Invitational by hosting Bucknell Saturday at 1:30 p.m., in the Events Center. Admission to the match is free courtesy of
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP. Throughout the contest, Binghamton will also raise awareness against Alzheimer's disease as part of its ALZtogether Match.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
