Binghamton volleyball opened its 2026 campaign without managing a win, dropping all three of its matches at Toledo’s Rocket Invitational this weekend.

The Bearcats fell to Bradley University and Oakland University in straight sets on Friday before closing the tournament with another three-set loss to host Toledo on Saturday. However, Binghamton showed flashes of competitiveness throughout the weekend, including late pushes against Oakland and Toledo.

Binghamton opened the season Friday morning with a 25-19, 25-12 and 25-20 loss to Bradley. The Bearcats held a 15-14 lead in the opening set behind five early kills from junior right-side hitter Viktoria Dimitrova, but Bradley responded with four consecutive points and eventually pulled away. After dropping the second set, Binghamton again came out strong in the third, taking an early 7-4 lead before Bradley completed the sweep.

The Bearcats had little time to regroup before facing Oakland later that Friday afternoon. Binghamton again fell in straight sets, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-23, but put together its closest set of the day in the final frame.

After trailing 14-10, the Bearcats fought back to tie the set at 16. Oakland later regained control and moved ahead 24-21, but Binghamton responded with a kill from freshman outside hitter Sophia Christoffers and an Oakland attack error to pull within one. The Golden Grizzlies secured the final point to complete their victory.

Sophomore right-side hitter Maya Coblentz-Brown led Binghamton with 10 kills against Oakland, while Dimitrova added eight. Sophomore libero Celeste Ocampo anchored the defense with 19 digs, bringing her total through two matches to 32.

Binghamton returned to the arena Saturday for its final match of the invitational to try its hand against Toledo. The Rockets took the opening set 25-12, but the Bearcats responded with one of their strongest stretches of the tournament in the second.

Binghamton pounced to a 4-1 lead, fueled by back-to-back service aces from sophomore setter Maia Marin. The Bearcats maintained their advantage for much of the set and entered the media timeout ahead 15-12 before Toledo scored six straight points to take control.

The Rockets eventually moved ahead 24-18, but Binghamton continued to fight, scoring four consecutive points to cut the deficit to two. Toledo ultimately took the set 25-22 before closing out the match with a 25-15 victory in the third.

Dimitrova finished the tournament as Binghamton’s leading attacker with 26 kills, while Ocampo provided a consistent defensive presence throughout the weekend. The tournament also marked the first collegiate appearances for several members of the Binghamton roster that entered the season with six newcomers.

The Bearcats will look to earn their first victory of the season next weekend when they travel to the Sacred Heart Invitational. Binghamton will open the tournament against Central Connecticut State at 3 p.m on Friday, Sept. 4.