VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team (4-3) opened the 2026 Bearcat Classic by winning a thrilling five-set match against Temple (4-3) Thursday in the West Gym. The Bearcats prevailed 25-21, 22-25, 27-25, 17-25, 15-13.
"It was really a team effort," said Binghamton Head Volleyball Coach
Allie Yaeger. "Everybody contributed. Everybody did what they had to do when the game was on the line. We subbed a lot, we used a lot of people, and when they were called upon in crucial moments, people came out and did exactly what we needed them to do. So, I'm really proud of them."
Viktoria Dimitrova put up a season-high 18 kills to lead the Bearcats, and
Maya Coblentz-Brown added 13.
Regan Kadel posted 40 assists, as the reigning America East Setter of the Week reached at least 40 for the third time in the last four matches.
Celeste Ocampo led all players with 26 digs. Making her collegiate debut Thursday night,
Marta Gintere led Binghamton with six blocks.
The Bearcats have won four matches in a row to get above .500 for the first time this season. This is also the first time Binghamton has won at least four matches in a row in a year since 2024, when the Bearcats ended the regular season winning seven straight contests from Oct. 20 – Nov. 17.
Binghamton grabbed momentum early in the first set, jumping ahead 8-3. The Owls closed the gap to two points on a few occasions, including at 16-14, but the Bearcats stayed ahead, eventually taking a 21-15 lead. Temple then went on a 6-1 run to bring it to a 22-21 lead for Binghamton. But a kill from
Francesca Pierdonati, followed by back-to-back attack errors from the Owls, gave Binghamton the first set.
The Bearcats looked to extend its lead in the match to 2-0, taking an 8-5 lead in the second set. Temple, however, scored the next three points to tie the frame. The set became a back-and-forth contest between the two teams, as they would tie each other on 10 different occasions. With Binghamton up 18-17, Temple scored the next four points to take the lead 21-18. Binghamton fought to a tie at 22, but just like the Bearcats in the first set, the Owls ended the second by scoring the final three points.
With the match tied 1-1, both teams continued to take turns in the third set grabbing the lead. There were ultimately nine tie scores and four lead changes throughout the set. Trailing 7-5, Binghamton used three kills from Dimitrova as part of a 4-0 run to take the lead at 9-7. The Bearcats stayed ahead until the Owls tied the frame at 21. Temple eventually got to set point, holding a 24-23 lead. Kadel set up
Magi Milicevic with a kill to tie the set at 24 and extend it. After both teams got one point to bring it to a 25-25 tie, the turning point of the frame came when Temple substituted in a player wearing a No. 6 jersey, the same number as one of its liberos who already appeared in the set. Due to the illegal substitution, Binghamton was rewarded with a point by the officials to move ahead 26-25, then won the frame on an attack error by Temple.
The Owls responded by going wire-to-wire to win the fourth set 25-17, setting up the final frame of the night. Binghamton countered by taking six of the first seven points to go up 6-1. During that run, Gintere assisted on two blocks. With the Bearcats up 10-6, the Owls countered with seven of the next 11 points to make it a 14-13 lead for the Bearcats. But Binghamton ultimately prevailed after a set by Temple went out of bounds, ending a match that lasted two hours and 36 minutes.
Binghamton continues hosting the Bearcat Classic Friday by taking on Cornell at 6 p.m. Admission to all of Binghamton's home matches this season is free on behalf of
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
