Volleyball Clinches America East Postseason Berth, Surges Past Binghamton In Straight Sets

Friday, October 30

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

16-7, 8-0AE

Binghamton University

5-18, 2-6AE

Binghamton

New Hampshire

UNH will be in the America East Championships for the fifth consecutive season.

Photo by: Breanna Eager

Volleyball Clinches America East Postseason Berth, Surges Past Binghamton In Straight Sets

10/30/2015 9:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire volleyball team clinched an America East playoff berth with a straight-set win over Binghamton University on Friday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

UNH's ninth sweep of the season came by scores of 25-23, 25-23 and 25-10.

New Hampshire, which will be making its fifth consecutive conference tournament appearance, improves its overall record to 16-7 and 8-0 in America East. Binghamton slips to 5-18, 2-6. The Wildcats extend their season-long winning streak to 10 matches and has won 19 straight contests against conference opponents.

UNH rolled out a balanced offense, led by 10 kills and three service aces from junior middle blocker Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.). Senior outside hitters Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Abby Brinkman (Brecksville, Ohio) tallied nine terminations apiece. Senior middle blocker Cassidy Croci (Sylvania, Ohio) pitched in seven kills. Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) orchestrated the attack with 34 assists while chipping in five digs and two service aces. Senior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) anchored UNH's passing and back-row defense with 22 digs to help hold Binghamton to a .067 hitting percentage.

Binghamton was led by a pair of double-double efforts from rookie outside hitter Erin Schultz and sophomore setter Sarah Ngo. Schultz registered 11 kills and 11 digs while Ngo notched 29 helpers and 10 digs. Junior defensive specialist Kasey Muchnicki shoveled out 11 attacks in the backcourt.

UNH made its way to a hard fought 25-23 first-set win with a .283 hitting percentage. The Wildcats jetted out to a 7-3 lead out of the chute, but the Bearcats clawed back to tie the set at the 10, 18, 19 and 20 marks. Binghamton took its first lead of the frame as Alicea landed a kill. New Hampshire swiftly countered as Croci slammed a kill that was coupled by two Binghamton hitting errors, giving the blue and white a 23-21 late in the opening stanza. Terminations from Brinkman and Croci allowed the Wildcats to take the first game.

UNH found themselves in another closely contested battle in the second set that featured 15 tie scores and seven lead changes. Neither team could establish a lead greater than two points as the two squads were tangled at 18 apiece. Muses broke the deadlock with a kill and a hitting error by Binghamton gave the home team a 20-18 lead late in the frame. Breaking out of a timeout, the Bearcats knotted the score at 20-20 as the visitors quickly landed a kill followed by an ace. New Hampshire opted to use its timeout in order to regain its composure for a late-set push. The two teams remained tied as each side added three points to their scores. Muses was called upon to break the tie again, tallying a kill and positioned the Wildcats for set-point. A miscue by Binghamton allowed UNH to take the second set and carry a 2-0 lead into the locker rooms.

The Wildcats had their way from the service line in the third set, ripping five aces. Senior outside hitter Maggie Kenney (Merrimack, N.H.), Severtson and Muses all chalked up aces in the decisive frame. UNH bolted out to a 10-5 lead to start the stanza, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Muses. New Hampshire was not phased by a pair of Binghamton timeouts as the the home team constructed double-digit leads of 16-6 and 20-10. Three service aces by Muses down the stretch powered the Wildcats to seize match-point and the sweep.

UNH looks to strengthen its grasp atop the America East standings, welcoming second-place University at Albany to Lundholm Gymnasium for Senior Day on Sunday, Nov. 1 (1 p.m.). The Wildcats close out the regular season with three straight road games starting with a battle against the University of Massachusetts Lowell on Friday, Nov. 6 (7 p.m.).

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