For Immediate Release: October 8, 2006
Contact: Anthony G. Naglieri (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

Volleyball tops New Hampshire 3-1, remains unbeaten in AE play
Bearcats extend home-winning streak to DI-best nine games

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Senior Katie Robertson (Ancaster, Ontario) led four BU players to hit in double figures with a team-high 18 kills to lead the Binghamton to a 24-30, 30-25, 30-28, 30-22 victory over visiting New Hampshire in America East volleyball action Sunday at the West Gym. The victory extends BU's current home winning streak to a Division-I best nine games and marks the squad's fifth triumph in its last six matches.

The Bearcats improve to 8-13 overall and a perfect 3-0 in America East play while New Hampshire falls to 5-13 and remains winless in three conference contests.

"It was a tough match all around," said head coach Glenn Kiriyama. "New Hampshire is a very athletic and physical team. We are glad to come out of here with the win today."

Junior middle blocker Jacki Kane (Centennial, Colorado) pounded 15 kills while committing just a single error to finish at a match-high clip of .388. Senior middle blocker Megan Hoag (Brunswick, Ohio) registered her 10th double-double of the season with a 17-kill, 14-dig performance.

"Jacki did a great job for us in the middle today," Kiriyama said. "She found a way to get kills and that's what we needed from her today."

Senior setter Ashley Meffert added 50 assists for the Bearcatswhile the sophomore defensive tandem of Katherine Courage (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Jaclyn Strader (Kettering, Ohio) again anchored Binghamton's back row, chipping in with 16 and 15 digs respectively. Junior Kathleen Schauer (Littleton, Colo.) also added 10 kills.

For New Hampshire, senior Sarah Rehn posted a double-double leading all hitters with a match-high 22 kills and 14 digs. Junior Emmy Blouin also chipped in with 11 kills in a losing effort.

The Wildcats controlled the tempo in the opener, outhitting the host Bearcats by a .306 to .182 margin en route to a 30-24 victory. Binghamton rebounded in the second frame leading from wire-to-wire to even the match at one game apiece.

A close third set saw the two teams deadlocked at 24-24 before a seemingly decisive 4-0 spurt put New Hampshire within just two points from victory. The visitors, however, could not seal the deal, as Binghamton reeled off six consecutive points to come from behind and grab a 2-1 advantage.

Having captured much of the match's momentum, the Bearcats stormed out in front 12-6 in the fourth frame and rolling to a 30-22 triumph.

Binghamton returns to action Friday evening as they head to Long Island for a 7 p.m. contest against Stony Brook.