VESTAL, N.Y. – After picking up its first America East Conference victory of the season last Sunday, the Binghamton volleyball team (9-7, 1-3 America East) looks to build off that momentum as the Bearcats face the New Jersey Institute of Technology (1-18, 0-4 America East) at 6 p.m., Friday at the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center in Newark, N.J.
LAST TIME OUT ON THE COURT
Binghamton snapped its three-match losing streak with a thrilling five-set victory over UAlbany on Oct. 11 in the West Gym. Helping lead the way for the Bearcats was
Briana Binagi, who put up a career-high 20 kills while adding nine digs, one assist and one service ace. In her first match since reaching 1,000 assists for her career last Friday,
Regan Kadel led Binghamton with a season-high 49 assists on Sunday. With her career total now at 1,060, she passed Julie Chambers' 1,013 for the eighth-most career assists in Binghamton volleyball history. Kadel now trails Kiara Adams, who sits seventh with 1,947. Kadel also had 15 digs Sunday for her third double-double of the season, and second in her last three matches. Both
Maya Coblentz-Brown and
Viktoria Dimitrova added 15 kills each, with Dimitrova also recording five total blocks.
Francesca Pierdonati and
Hannah Olmstead led all players with six total blocks each, and
Celeste Ocampo recorded 26 digs.
THE BLOCK PARTY CONTINUES
Binghamton continues to rank among the top programs in the country when it comes to blocking. The Bearcats rank 27th in the nation in blocks per set (2.69) and team total blocks (166.5), leading the America East in both categories. Individually, Olmstead ranks 30th in the country in blocks per set at 1.38. Also, Pierdonati leads the America East in total blocks with 66.
GETTING THE JOB DONE ON DEFENSE
In her first season as the starting libero, Ocampo has emerged as one of the top defenders in the America East. The sophomore ranks second in the conference and 28th in the country in digs per set at 4.57. Ocampo has recorded at least 20 digs in four matches this season, including 26 in Binghamton's victory against UAlbany.
MORE ON NJIT
Binghamton leads the all-time series against NJIT 11-2. The Bearcats have won the last 10 meetings, including both contests back in 2025, each of which went to five sets.
NJIT's sole victory came on Sept. 2, when the Highlanders defeated Manhattan 3-2.
Ema Torres ranks seventh in the America East in kills per set (2.76), while Aries Fontaine is 10th in the league (2.43). Tereza Motalova also ranks sixth in the league in hitting percentage (.269). On defense, Motalova is seventh in the conference in blocks per set (0.83), while Ela Akay ranks seventh in digs per set (3.02).
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
