Binghamton University

For Immediate Release: September 30, 2007
Contact: Anthony G. Naglieri (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

Volleyball improves to 2-0 in conference play, tops Maine 3-1
Balanced effort gives Bearcats second straight win

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton (8-12) moved to 2-0 in conference play with a 3-1 victory over Maine (1-13, 0-2 AE) in America East action Sunday at the West Gym. The Bearcats came out on top by scores of 30-25, 28-30, 30-23, and 30-22. BU has now won 16-straight home conference matches.

"I thought we started off a little bit tentative, but they got into it pretty quick," said ninth-year head coach Glenn Kiriyama. "We served well to start with...it sort of let us down in second game, but I thought we picked up our serving, picked up our passing, and got some key blocks in the last two games."

Senior captain Kathleen Schauer (Littleton, Colo.) had a team-high 15 kills and senior Jacki Kane (Centennial, Colo.) added 11 kills and a match-high eight blocks to lead the Bearcats to their second straight win.

"I thought Kat had a solid game in the second half of the match on the outside with her hits. She really kept us going when we needed it. I was very pleased with the play of our middles. They had a good offensive and defensive game out there, blocking and getting their hands on a lot of balls. They came out pretty focused and ready for this match and I thought they made a big difference in today's result."

Junior Ashley Allen (Mill Creek, Wash.) added 11 kills with an attack percentage of .321 (11-2-28), while freshman Lindsey Mueller (West Bend West, Wis.) recorded her second straight double-double, dishing out a match-high 47 assists to go along with a team-high 16 digs. Mueller also added five blocks.

Sophomore Dawn Lammert (Sussex, Wis.) concluded a strong weekend with nine kills at a .350 clip (9-2-20) and six blocks.

Binghamton used a 14-6 run to erase a 7-3 deficit and record a 30-25 game one win. The Bearcats hit .294 (15-5-34) and took advantage of 10 Maine errors to take the 1-0 lead.

"Katie Thomas really came in there and gave us a spark in that first game with her defense and passing. The numbers don't show it, but her presence was big."

Game two was a tight affair featuring seven ties and six lead changes. The score stood tied at 26-26, but a pair of late BU service errors gave the edge to the Black Bears in a 30-28 finish.

The Bearcats answered the bell in games three and four, winning 30-23 and 30-22. BU hit a match-high .438 (17-3-32) in the clincher, committing only three errors. Binghamton held the edge at the net, outblocking the Black Bears by a 14-8 margin.

Maine had three hitters post double-digit kills, led by junior Lindsay Allman's match-high of 16.

"It was a good team effort. All the matches in conference are going to be tough and there is no one we can overlook and today was a good indication of that. Maine always plays us tough and we expect it will be a battle when we head to Orono."

The Bearcats begin a three-game road swing on Tuesday at Colgate. First serve is set for 7 p.m. BU swept Colgate last season on October 25.

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