Women’s volleyball faced off against the University of New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon on home territory. Going the full five sets, the Bearcats fought hard against the UNH Wildcats in an unexpected defeat.

Binghamton made a great effort, putting up 109 points total in comparison to UNH’s 103. However, it was not enough, and although they dominated defensive scores and service stats, both their total attacks and hit percentage fell slightly behind New Hampshire’s.

Their first set started rocky with an initial service error, but picked up quickly. The score reached a deficit at 3-6 with a strong performance from the opposing blockers. Still early in the game, the Bearcats picked up the pace and a service error from UNH followed by a service ace from junior outside hitter Briana Binagi evened out the score 8-8. The Wildcats responded in equal force, scoring another four points.

Binghamton mirrored this yet again, trailing behind but catching up with a kill from sophomore right side hitter Maya Coblentz-Brown and two service aces from sophomore libero / defensive specialist Eve Roman yet again bringing it to a tie at 13-13. UNH and Binghamton remained neck-and-neck until the score hit 22-21. UNH was composed, but fumbled against Binghamton’s energy and coordination, allowing back-to-back kills from sophomore middle blocker Hannah Olmstead, sophomore middle blocker Francesca Pierdonati and Coblentz-Brown, allowing Binghamton to take the set.

The Bearcats started their second set strong, leaving no room for UNH to score. The team racked up six points in their favor with strong showings from junior outside hitter Magi Milicevic and Olmstead to get there, despite UNH taking time to regroup. Strong pushback from UNH allowed them to just barely trail behind until 8-7. Binghamton’s coordination and special efforts from Milicevic and junior setter Regan Kadel pushed the team through to a landslide set win at 25-12.

Tensions were high entering the third set. Energy and hopes were high for the Bearcats, fresh off two set wins and a cruise through the second set. But stakes were higher for the Wildcats, their shot at winning the game contingent on taking this set.

UNH took the lead right away, 0-3, but Binghamton bounced back with a couple kills from Coblentz-Brown, slowly closing the gap. With both teams having strong presences by the net, the Bearcats managed to power through, reaching five points on each side. The teams continued going shot-for-shot, Binghamton’s score lagging behind, struggling when UNH was able to break through their frontline defenses. The Wildcats faltered in response, and the Bearcats took the lead 9-8 for the first time in the set with a kill from Coblentz-Brown.

A kill from Pierdonati tied the score at 14-14, and the Wildcats turned up the intensity in response, blasting forward by five points during a scoreless period for the Bearcats. From 20-15, Binghamton was unable to close the gap, trading blows until UNH won the set 25-21.

The comeback from UNH thus drove the game to five sets.

The fourth set began roughly for the Bearcats. Although the players’ momentum was slowing down, they kept fighting and brought it back 10-9 through back-to-back blocks from Olmstead and Coblentz-Brown into a kill from Coblentz-Brown and seven points in a row.

The margin of difference stayed tight between the teams for the remainder of the set, staying within one from 19-18 through the 20s. Great communication and strong efforts from both sides made it a fight for every point, long volleys leading to unique saves and many tests of teamwork. The aforementioned closeness in score pushed both teams into overdrive, extending the set past 25. Binghamton stayed motivated, pushing the score up first, but UNH inevitably followed. The breaking point was 28-28, where UNH first broke the score and gained the two consecutive points needed to take the set 28-30.

The fifth set kicked off with a long fight for the first point, which went to the Wildcats. Milicevic fought back with a kill for the second point, initiating a battle that inched forward through the duration of the last set. Pierdonati showed up and showed out, a kill and service ace keeping Binghamton in the game. A brilliant round of kills from UNH was countered by tactical attacks from Coblentz-Brown and strong support from Kadel and sophomore libero/defensive specialist Celeste Ocampo. Despite that, it was not enough to bring Binghamton back, and UNH took the set 10-15, winning the match.

Binghamton will try to restart their win streak against Colgate University on Friday, Oct. 9, in Hamilton, New York, at 6 p.m.