VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team (10-7, 2-3 America East) returns to New Jersey for its second match there in four days, as the Bearcats face Fairleigh Dickinson (8-13, 5-1 NEC) at 6 p.m., Tuesday at Bogota Savings Bank Center in Hackensack, N.J.
LAST TIME OUT ON THE COURT
In Binghamton's last trip to the Garden State, the Bearcats swept NJIT on Oct. 17.
Magi Milicevic recorded a career-high 19 kills for Binghamton, while
Maya Coblentz-Brown added a season-high 16 to go along with a match-high four blocks.
Regan Kadel, meanwhile, recorded 45 assists, reaching that total for the second match in a row.
Celeste Ocampo also posted 27 digs for Binghamton in the win.
TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
With their victory against NJIT, the Bearcats have won their last two matches, both against America East Conference opponents. Binghamton previously defeated UAlbany in five sets on Oct. 11.
Additionally, multiple players for Binghamton have enjoyed a stretch of positive performances. For example, Kadel has recorded at least 45 assists in three of her last four matches. Meanwhile, Ocampo has had at least 26 digs in each of her last two matches.
THE BLOCK PARTY CONTINUES
Binghamton continues to rank among the top programs in the country when it comes to blocking. The Bearcats rank 28th in the nation in blocks per set at 2.65. Against NJIT, the Bearcats put up six blocks as a team. Coblentz-Brown recorded a match-high four total blocks, while
Hannah Olmstead and
Francesca Pierdonati each had three.
MORE ON FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
Binghamton has won all five of its meetings against Fairleigh Dickinson dating back to 2004. In the last match between the two programs at Lehigh's Steel Classic Tournament on Sept. 8, 2023, the Bearcats prevailed in five sets.
After starting the season 2-12, Fairleigh Dickinson has rebounded by winning six of its last seven matches, going 5-1 in NEC play in the process. During that stretch, the Knights won two matches against Mercyhurst and Central Connecticut State, split their two meetings against Stonehill and swept Saint Peter's in a non-conference match.
Angela Marchetto and Alessia Zampieri rank in the top two in the NEC in blocks per set. Marchetto leads the league with an average of 1.44, while Zampieri is in second at 1.03. Zampieri is also sixth in the NEC in hitting percentage at .287. Meanwhile, Mila Samardzija is sixth in the league in points per set (3.31) and eighth in kills per set (267).
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
