VESTAL, N.Y. – For the second night in a row, the Binghamton volleyball team (5-3) came out victorious in a five-set match, this time defeating Cornell (1-3) Friday at the Bearcat Classic in the West Gym. The Bearcats ultimately defeated the Big Red 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 23-25 and 15-11.
Maya Coblentz-Brown put up a season-high 16 kills to lead the Bearcats, while
Viktoria Dimitrova added 13.
Regan Kadel also recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 11 digs for Binghamton. On defense,
Celeste Ocampo had 20 digs, having at least 20 for the second match in a row.
Magi Milicevic, meanwhile, had four total blocks.
With the victory, Binghamton has won its last five matches, extending its longest winning streak since when the Bearcats closed out the 2024 regular by prevailing in their final seven matches. Binghamton also defeated Cornell for the first time since Sept. 24, 2014, when the Bearcats defeated the Big Red in straight sets in Ithaca, N.Y. Also, with Friday's victory, Binghamton improves to 3-0 this season in five-set matches. It is the first time that Binghamton has won its first three matches that went to five sets in a season since 2004. That year, Binghamton defeated Akron, Siena and Maine.
Coming off Thursday's thrilling five-set win against Temple, Binghamton remained energized going into Friday night's contest. After giving up the first two points, the Bearcats took the next five to move ahead 5-2. It was the only lead change of the set, as Binghamton hit 63 percent in the opening frame to win it and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Just as it seemed Binghamton was ready to take control in the second set after going ahead 7-4, Cornell responded with three points in a row to tie the frame. There would ultimately be nine tie scores and five lead changes throughout the set. Binghamton got within one point of Cornell, trailing 18-17. But the Big Red finished the frame by taking seven of the final eight points to tie the match.
In the third set, up 11-10, the Bearcats used a 10-4 run to stretch its lead out to 21-14. During that stretch, Binghamton recorded two service aces, one from Milicevic, and one from
Maia Marin. While Cornell fought back to bring it to 23-19, Binghamton picked up the final two points thanks to a kill from
Francesca Pierdonati and an attack error from Cornell to retake the lead for the match at 2-1.
Both teams hit at least 56 percent in the fourth set, a frame that included eight tie scores and three lead changes. Up 16-15, Cornell used a 6-1 run to put itself on the verge of set point at 22-16. Binghamton chipped away at the deficit, going on a 7-2 run to make it 24-23 in favor of the Big Red. Binghamton would not be able to extend the set, however, as Cornell ended the Bearcats' run with a kill to win the set and tie the match at 2-2.
Cornell began the fifth set by taking the first three points. Binghamton countered with the next four points, thanks in part to two kills by Coblentz-Brown. After Cornell tied the frame at 4-4, Binghamton picked up five of the next seven points to take a 10-6 lead. The Big Red then scored the next three points, as Binghamton held on to a 10-9 lead. To take back the momentum, the Bearcats got a kill from
Briana Binagi, followed by a service ace from Pierodonati and a kill by
Hannah Olmstead to bring its lead up to four at 13-9. The Big Red secured the next two points to make it 13-11, but Marin and Binagi recorded the final two kills for Binghamton to win the match.
Binghamton closes out the Bearcat Classic with a match against New Haven Saturday at 1 p.m., in the West Gym. After the match, fans are invited to Meet the Bearcats, a meet-and-greet where Binghamton players will be available to sign team posters. 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.
