VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team (14-9, 5-4 America East) closed out the weekend with its second-straight sweep after defeating the New Jersey Institute of Technology (1-23, 0-9 America East) in straight sets Sunday at West Gym. Binghamton won the match 25-18, 25-22 and 25-14.
Magi Milicveic led the Bearcats in kills for the second consecutive match, recording 14 against the Highlanders.
Viktoria Dimitrova, meanwhile, added 12 herself. Additionally,
Regan Kadel posted 34 assists,
Hannah Olmstead had nine blocks and
Celeste Ocampo picked up 17 digs.
Two days after the Bearcats clinched a spot in the America East Volleyball Championship for the fifth-straight year following their sweep at UAlbany on Friday, Binghamton looked to carry its momentum into Sunday's match. NJIT fought early, however, as the Highlanders battled the Bearcats to an 8-8 tie early in the first set. Binghamton built a lead with a 14-3 run, thanks in part to three kills from both Dimitrova and Milicevic, to take a 22-11 lead. The Highlanders closed the gap, getting within six points at 23-18, but the Bearcats took the final two points, finishing the set with a hitting percentage of .368, to win the opening frame.
NJIT continued the fight into the second set, eventually grabbing a 16-13 lead. Binghamton responded by scoring 11 straight points to go ahead 24-16 and bring itself on the verge of grabbing a 2-0 lead in the match. Milicevic picked up another four kills during that run. NJIT then took the next six points to make it 24-22 Bearcats, but a ball handling error from the Highlanders ultimately gave Binghamton the set.
Trailing 6-5 in the third set, Binghamton took control of the frame by closing out the match on a 20-8 run to take home the victory. Dimitrova, Milicevic and
Maya Coblentz-Brown each had three kills during the final set, while
Francesca Pierdonati recorded all four of her blocks.
Binghamton wraps up its regular season by facing America East regular season champion UMBC in Baltimore, Md., at 1 p.m., on Sunday.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
