With last Sunday’s loss to Albany hanging over its head, the BU women’s volleyball team enters this weekend’s games on the rebound.
Binghamton hopes to hold onto its tie with the Great Danes for first place in the America East conference when it takes on the New Hampshire Wildcats tonight and Hartford Hawks on Sunday.
Though the Bearcats (14-10, 6-1 AE) have already defeated both teams earlier this season, they are being careful to focus on these two games before setting their eyes on the conference playoffs.
“Doing well in the conference is definitely a goal of ours but you have to be careful not to overlook the last three weeks of the season,” said junior middle blocker Megan Hoag. “Any team can have a great game.”
Head coach Glenn Kiriyama knows New Hampshire has presented a challenge to the Bearcats in recent years. The two teams battled it out in a ferocious five-game set earlier this month and last year Binghamton dropped both matches to the Wildcats.
“New Hampshire is a tough team,” Kiriyama said. “We are going into the game knowing it’s going to be a battle.”
New Hampshire (6-16, 3-4 AE) is also entering tonight’s game on a three-game winning streak and has momentum on its side. The team is led by senior captain Erin Walker who ranks third in the conference in points per game.
Hartford (8-16, 0-7 AE) is moving in the opposite direction. Even though the Hawks have failed to garner a conference victory this year, Kiriyama isn’t overlooking them.
“Hartford is just like any team in the conference,” he said. “They aren’t going to lay down for anybody.”
Binghamton will head to the Lundholm Gymnasium tonight to take on the Wildcats at 7 p.m. The Bearcats will return to the West Gym on Sunday to host the Hawks at 1 p.m. It will be BU’s first home match since defeating Maine 3-2 in front of 680 fans on Oct. 14.