VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team (8-4) wrapped up its appearance at the Dartmouth Invitational with a 3-2 victory over Quinnipiac (1-10) Sunday at Leede Arena. The Bearcats won the match 25-16, 25-27, 15-25, 25-23 and 15-11.
Viktoria Dimitrova tied her career high of 22 kills Sunday, recording at least 20 in a match for the first time this season. Her 23.5 points against the Bobcats was also a season high for the junior. Additionally, Dimitrova added five digs and three blocks.
Meanwhile,
Francesca Pierdonati recorded her first collegiate double-double. The sophomore set a new career high with 12 kills, while tying her career best in blocks with 10. Another player setting a career high for the Bearcats was Even Roman, who led all players Sunday with 21 digs. It is the first time the sophomore has recorded at least 20 in a match. Also,
Regan Kadel also put up a season-high 43 assists.
With the win, Binghamton improves to 4-0 this season in matches that went five sets. The Bearcats previously defeated Sacred Heart, Temple and Cornell in five sets earlier this year.
The Bearcats went wire-to-wire to win the opening set, hitting 45 percent as a team in the opening frame. Pierdonati recorded five kills during and three block assists during the frame. Both
Maya Coblentz-Brown and
Hannah Olmstead also had three block assists throughout the set. The set also included a highlight-reel play for the Bearcats. With Binghamton up 20-14, Roman dove to dig an attack from the Bobcats. With the ball heading towards the stands,
Briana Binagi went around the judge's stand and dove herself, using one hand to keep the ball in play for Binghamton. The Bearcats ultimately picked up the point after an attack error was called on Quinnpiac.
Binghamton was on the verge of going up 2-0 in the match, leading the second set 23-18. But Quinnipiac scored six of the next seven points to extend the frame. After both teams picked up one point, the Bobcats scored the final two to win the set and tie the match at 1.
Quinnipiac carried that momentum over into the third set. With the score tied at 8, the Bobcats went on a 15-3 run to grab a 23-11 lead, before ultimately winning the set.
Needing to win the fourth set to extend the match, Binghamton took the first three points of the frame. Both teams traded the lead throughout the frame before reaching a 23-23 tie. To break the tie, Dimitrova picked up her last of her six kills in the set to give Binghamton the lead. Olmstead ultimately closed out the frame with a kill of her own, forcing a fifth set.
Unfazed, the Bearcats scored six of the first seven points in the fifth set to take a 6-1 lead. Quinnipiac rallied, however, with a 5-1 run to make it 7-6 Bearcats. Binghamton stayed the course, eventually holding a 14-11 lead. With victory in sight, Binagi delivered the final kill for the Bearcats, giving them their eighth win in their last nine matches.
Binghamton begins America East conference play on Sunday, Sept. 27 with a match at New Hampshire. The first serve is set for 1 p.m.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
