Straight-Set Win vs. Binghamton Puts 'Cats in Title Game

Friday, November 18

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

20-10, 10-2AE

Binghamton University

13-14, 7-5AE

Binghamton

UNH

Photo by: Joey Walker

11/18/2016 9:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Video Highlights

Olhava Leads Balanced Attack With 11 Kills

DURHAM, N.H. – Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.) led a balanced attack with 11 kills in the University of New Hampshire volleyball team's gritty 3-0 win against Binghamton University in Friday night's America East semifinal at Lundholm Gym. The set scores were 25-18, 26-24, 25-20.

New Hampshire advances to the championship match for the fourth consecutive year and will face the University at Albany in the title match the third straight year. Albany defeated UMBC, 3-0, in Friday's earlier semifinal. The title game is Nov. 19 (4 p.m.).

UNH, the America East regular-season championship and tournament top seed with a 10-2 conference record, extended its win streak to nine matches to improve to 20-10. It is the fourth consecutive year the Wildcats have recorded 20 wins.

Binghamton, the tournament No. 4 seed with a 7-5 conference record, ends the season at 13-14.

New Hampshire Team Stats
42 kills / 17 errors / .189 hitting percentage
39 assists
6 services aces / 4 service errors
54 digs
5 blocks (including three solo)

Binghamton Team Stats
38 kills / 22 errors / .132 hitting percentage
34 assists
0 service ace / 3 service errors
60 digs
6 blocks (all assisted)

UNH Individual Leaders
Gabri Olhava: 11 kills, .259 hit%
Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.): five kills, 18 digs, three blocks
Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.): 34 assists, seven digs, four kills
Hannah Petke (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.): eight kills, .353 hit%
Emily Tanski (Plymouth, Mich.): seven kills, .214 hit%, two service aces
Kennedi Smith (The Woodlands, Texas): seven kills, eight digs, three blocks

Binghamton Individual Leaders
Gaby Alicea: 13 kills, .321 hit%,
Erin Shulz: eight kills, .280 hit%, six digs
Kristella Morina: eight kills, .333 hit%, three blocks
Sarah Ngo: 30 assists, 16 digs

Up Next: Nov. 19 vs. Albany, America East Championship final, 4 p.m.

THE DIFFERENCE

Binghamton led 22-21 in the second set and fought off one set point, but a kill by Kennedi Smith and Bearcats' setting error gave UNH the second set, 26-24, for a 2-0 lead in the match.
Two-time America East Player of the Year Demi Muses was a defensive stalwart with 18 digs and three blocks.
Hannah Petke powered UNH's attack in Set 2 with five kills on a .667 hitting percentage.

SET 1

With the score tied 7-7, a kill by Smith ignited a 5-0 run that also included a combined block by Smith and Muses to give New Hampshire a 12-7 lead.
Binghamton never got closer than three points the rest of the set.
UNH held a 20-16 lead and closed on a 5-2 spurt with two kills from Muses as well as single kills by Petke, Smith and Tanski.
UNH recorded its highest attack percentage in any of the three sets at .238 while the Bearcats were held to their lowest mark of the night at .119.

SET 2

Binghamton raced out to a 4-0 lead but the Wildcats replied with three consecutive points to quickly narrow the gap to 4-3.
Trailing 7-6, UNH reeled off six straight points to take a 12-7 lead. Four Bearcat errors fueled the spurt.
The visitors slowly chipped away and pulled even at 18.
A Gabri Olhava kill and service ace by Keelin Severtson put the Wildcats back in front, 20-18.
Binghamton answered with three consecutive points, the last two on blocks, to take a 21-20 lead.
UNH trailed 22-21 and called time out. The home team responded with back-to-back points and, one point later, Petke's kill gave New Hampshire set point at 24-23.
Gaby Alicea prolonged the set by sending the ball down to the court for a kill, but the Wildcats won the next two points to win the set, 26-24, and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

SET 3

There were 10 ties and five lead changes in the third set.
Binghamton utilized a 4-0 run to transform a one-point deficit into a 10-7 lead.
The Bearcats fended off the Wildcats until a kill and block by Olhava put the home team back in front, 13-12.
With the score tied at 18, UNH won three consecutive points to prompt a Binghamton timeout. New Hampshire continued momentum out of the break, however, as kills by Tanski and Olhava made it a 5-0 run and 23-18 lead.
The Bearcats fended off one match point at 24-19, but the team's third service error of the night ended the set and match, as well as Binghamton's season.

'CAT NIPS

UNH advances to the America East title game for the fourth consecutive year and 10^th time in tourney history.
The Wildcats have won each of the last three conference tourney titles and six overall.

For the most up-to-date information on the volleyball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL.