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A potential statement weekend against the defending champions turned into a pair of disappointing losses for the Binghamton University women’s volleyball team. The Bearcats once again struggled against conference foe University at Albany, losing both on the road and at home.

Binghamton (11-11, 3-3 America East) had won its first two conference matches but is currently 1-3 in its last four, including two losses at home. The Bearcats are tied for third place in the conference with Stony Brook University.

“We’re playing good teams,” said Binghamton head coach Glenn Kiriyama. “Albany’s a really solid team. It’s not like we’re playing bad, it’s just that they’re playing well. We’ve got to make adjustments; we didn’t adjust very well. Our hitters had a tough time against their block. They did well on the other side. It’s frustrating for our team, but we’ve just got to push through it.”

Meanwhile, the Great Danes (16-8, 6-0 AE) remain undefeated in conference play and sit atop the America East standings. Junior setter Brooke Stanley, last week’s America East Setter and Player of the Week, was given Setter of the Week honors for her play this weekend, while teammate senior middle blocker Hillary White was given this week’s Player of the Week award.

The teams first met on Friday in Albany, and things looked bad for BU from the start. The Great Danes used a .773 hitting percentage and 17 kills in the first set to put down the Bearcats, 25-12. Binghamton showed more tenacity in the second set, which turned out to be an offensive battle. The teams combined for over 40 kills in the set, as BU rallied from 19-13 down to tie it at 21, and even take a 24-22 lead. After Binghamton failed to convert two set points, the teams battled to a 28-27 score in favor of Albany. Binghamton’s offensive attack was stuffed by the Albany blockers and the Great Danes took a two-sets-to-none lead with a 29-27 win.

As they showed the week before, though, the Bearcats don’t give up with their backs against the wall. Albany’s eight errors helped give Binghamton the 25-18 win in the third set, and the teams played a tight fourth set before BU and its 18 kills finished with a 25-21 victory.

Thus the Bearcats had a chance to complete the comeback against their rivals, and seemed poised to do so with a 9-8 lead. Unfortunately for BU, the Bearcats couldn’t hold on, allowing the Great Danes to go on a 5-0 run en route to a 15-11 win for Albany. Junior Michelle McDonough led the Bearcats with 18 kills, followed by senior Dawn Lammert’s career-high 16 kills. Freshman Alex Roland had five blocks, and the setters on each team put up over 50 assists each. Five Great Danes had double-digit kills, while White and sophomore Casey Wright each had five blocks.

“It was a good comeback by our team, especially after losing the first game so bad, and stretching them out in the second game,” said head coach Glenn Kiriyama. “It gave them a little confidence, and hopefully we get another chance at them later this season. But yeah, it’s tough to lose those five-gamers when you come so close, but [our team] knows they’ve got to work on stuff and we’ve got to get a little better.”

Following the match, the two teams traveled to Binghamton for a second matchup on Sunday. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, the match did not turn out to be as competitive. The teams played a tight first set, with BU jumping out to a 4-1 lead. The Bearcats’ 4-3 lead turned out to be their last lead of the set, as Albany pulled ahead. The Great Danes led 19-15, but a 4-0 run by the home team tied it at 19. Binghamton couldn’t complete the comeback, allowing the Great Danes to take the set, 25-21.

The second set was a tough one for the Bearcats. Down 10-6, Binghamton served the ball out of bounds. It turned out to be the start of a rally for Albany, whose front line blocked the next four Bearcat attacks. After BU misplayed a serve to give the Great Danes an ace, Albany put up one more block to complete a 7-0 run and take a 17-6 lead. Binghamton got blocks on the next two plays to build a little momentum, but couldn’t overcome the large deficit, falling 25-13.

“We’re sort of one-dimensional at certain times, which makes it easier on [their] blockers,” Kiriyama said. “But they’re … a pretty solid team. They’re probably the best blocking team in the conference right now, stat-wise.”

So Binghamton went into the final set needing another miracle five-set comeback. With the team trailing 22-15 and just three points away from a loss, co-captain Michelle McDonough caught fire. The team went on a 6-1 run on the strength of her offensive force and the serve of freshman Elana King to close within two at 23-21. A pair of misplays by the Bearcats on the next two plays ended their chances, though, giving up the set 25-21.

“It’s tough to put a hand on any one thing,” Kiriyama said, regarding the team’s loss. “But I thought our overall performance wasn’t up to par for us, and everything from the passing to hitting we struggled a little bit.”

The Bearcats will take a break from conference play and face off against Colgate University (10-11, 7-2 Patriot League) on Wednesday. Binghamton then returns home to resume conference play on Sunday with a match against the University of New Hampshire (9-13, 1-4 AE) scheduled for 1 p.m. The Bearcats beat the Wildcats in four sets earlier this month.