FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Binghamton volleyball team (3-3) completed an undefeated weekend at the Sacred Heart Invitational, defeating both Sacred Heart (2-3) 3-2 and Le Moyne (0-5) 3-0 Saturday at the William H. Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center.
The Bearcats, who previously beat Central Connecticut State 3-1 on Friday, began Saturday by taking down Sacred Heart in a thrilling five-set match 25-20, 15-25, 25-17, 22-25 and 15-10. Binghamton then carried that momentum into its final match of the weekend, sweeping Le Moyne 25-14, 25-9 and 25-13.
Viktoria Dimitrova put up a combined 25 kills, eight blocks, and three digs between both matches.
Magi Milicevic added a total of 21 kills, 13 digs and seven total blocks.
Regan Kadel also put up 63 assists on Saturday to finish the invite with 104 across three matches.
Celeste Ocampo led all Bearcats with a combined 26 digs on Saturday, and
Hannah Olmstead also recorded a total of 14 blocks.
For their performance throughout the weekend, Dimitrova, Kadel and Ocampo were named to the invitational's All-Tournament Team.
Match One vs. Sacred Heart
Binghamton got into an early deficit in the first set against Sacred Heart, trailing the Pioneers 7-2. The Bearcats slowly chipped away at the deficit, getting within two points at 10-8 thanks in part to two blocks from
Francesca Pierdonati. Binghamton then scored seven of the next nine points to move ahead 15-12. The Bearcats stayed ahead for the remainder of the set, eventually winning the frame 25-20 to take a 1-0 lead.
Sacred Heart jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the second set, eventually winning the frame 25-15 to tie the match 1-1. Binghamton countered by using an 8-0 run to take hold of a 10-4 lead in the third set. During the run, Milicevic recorded three kills. Later in the set, the Bearcats scored five straight points to extend its advantage to 19-9, eventually winning the set 25-17.
Down 2-1, Sacred Heart built up a six-point lead in the fourth set at 17-11. Binghamton fought back to bring it within one point at 22-21, but the Pioneers closed out the frame by taking three of the final four points to win it 25-22 and force a fifth set.
To win the match, Binghamton would have to rally from a 4-2 deficit in the last frame. Both teams then battled to an 8-8 deadlock. The Bearcats then scored the next five points, taking advantage of four straight attack errors from the Pioneers, two of which were consecutive blocks by both Kadel and Olmstead. After Sacred Heart scored the next two points to make it 13-10, Binghamton closed out the match by taking the final two points.
Dimitrova finished the match with 14 kills for the second contest in a row, while also adding a career-high eight total blocks. Both
Maya Coblentz-Brown and Milicevic also added 12 kills. Olmstead and Pierdonati each set a career high with 10 total blocks. Kadel posted 40 assists, making it the second match in a row she recorded at least that many, while Ocampo put up 18 digs.
This is the second time Binghamton has ever beaten Sacred Heart. The first victory came during the inaugural matchup between the two programs on Sept. 17, 2000, when Binghamton prevailed in straight sets in Connecticut.
Match Two vs. Le Moyne
With both teams reaching a 4-4 tie in the first set, Binghamton went on a 6-0 run to break out to a 10-4 lead. The Bearcats kept their distance from the Dolphins, eventually winning the frame by 11 points.
Binghamton's performance in the second set would be even more dominant. The Bearcats raced out to a 14-1 lead. During that run, Olmstead had two kills and two blocks. Binghamton kept the pressure up, reaching 20 points before Le Moyne got to seven. The Bearcats finished the frame with a 25-9 victory.
It was the first time Binghamton held an opponent to less than 10 points in a full set since the Bearcats limited Canisius to nine in the second frame of their match at the Binghamton Invitational on Sept. 12, 2025. Binghamton went on to win that contest in straight sets. This is also the second match in a row against Le Moyne where the Bearcats held the Dolphins to nine points in a set. In the last meeting between the two teams on Sept. 24, 2024, in Syracuse, N.Y., Binghamton defeated Le Moyne in the third set 25-9 en route to a 3-1 victory.
Binghamton would not need four sets to defeat Le Moyne this time, however. Trailing 8-7 in the third set, the Bearcats put up four of the next six points to move ahead 11-10. Then, Binghamton scored 11 unanswered points to extend its lead to 22-10. During that run,
Briana Binagi had two of her career-high four service aces. Binghamton ultimately closed out the match with two kills from Milicevic and one from Olmstead.
Dimitrova finished the final contest of Binghamton's weekend with another 11 kills, while Milicevic had nine. Olmstead, who had a match-high four blocks, also tied her career high of eight kills, which she previously set during her first two collegiate matches against Fordham and Connecticut at the 2025 Bearcat Classic. Kadel, meanwhile, led Binghamton in assists (23) and was tied with Ocampo for the team lead in digs (8) against Le Moyne on Saturday.
Up Next
Binghamton makes its first appearance this season on its home floor as it hosts the Bearcat Classic from Thursday through Saturday at the West Gym. The Bearcats first face Temple at 7 p.m., on Thursday, followed by Cornell at 6 p.m., on Friday and then New Haven at 1 p.m., on Saturday.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
