With both the Binghamton and Albany volleyball teams entering their Friday matchup with 4-2 America East records and sharing a second-place tie, the game’s winner will move into sole possession of the number two standing in the conference with only five contests remaining.
“When we play Albany, I feel like it is always a big match for us,” BU head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. “They have been perennial volleyball standouts. They have always been a tough team to play.”
The two teams initially met to open conference play earlier this season. The Bearcats (6-15, 4-2 AE) entered the match struggling, having lost seven of their last eight games. But in one of their toughest matches of the season, Binghamton captured the contest in a five-set thriller.
“We handled the ball just well enough to score a lot of points,” Kiriyama said. “I thought we served pretty tough against them. We were able to disrupt the wall well amongst our hitters.”
Since that game, the Bearcats have won three of five, including sweeps of conference rivals UMass Lowell, UMBC and a four-set triumph over Stony Brook.
Binghamton has been led by sophomore outside hitter Allison Hovie, who leads the team with 3.07 kills per set, and senior setter Amanda Dettmann, who currently ranks fourth in the conference with 9.01 assists per set.
In the Bearcats’ last contest, a straight-set defeat of UMBC, the pair dominated. Hovie finished with 12 kills and 16 digs on her way to winning the America East Player of the Week award, while Dettmann controlled the offense, distributing 34 assists and chipping in 14 digs to earn AE Co-Setter of the Week honors. Freshman middle hitter Alexis LaGoy, who contributed nine kills, also garnered AE honors in being named Rookie of the Week.
“It was nice for them to get their recognition,” Kiriyama said. “They have been working hard all season. They are just starting to come into their own a little bit — especially the younger ones on the team — so it was good to see that.”
Albany (6-12, 4-2 AE) sophomore outside hitters Laini Leindecker and Olivia Schonewise served the Bearcats’ defense difficulties in the two programs’ matchup last month. Leindecker, who currently sits in second in the conference with 3.10 kills per set, finished with a game-high 19 terminations against the Bearcats while Schonewise added 16. Couple those two with another pair of strong sophomore outside hitters, Amy Hunter and Amanda Dolan, and the Great Danes have a potent offense that will provide a challenge for the Bearcats.
The Bearcats defense — led by sophomore libero Bailey Walker, who has recorded 20 digs or more in six straight games — will need to rise to the challenge for the Bearcats to complete their season sweep of Albany.
“[Getting the win] is important,” Kiriyama said. “It is going to be a tight race this year. It is always tight but I think that it is going to stay tight. Every win is important for us. I think it will put us in a much better position.”
BU and Albany will face off Friday at the West Gym. First serve is set for 7 p.m.