Pola Propels UNH to Senior Day Win vs. Binghamton, 3-1

Saturday, November 13

Durham, NH

4:30 PM

University of New Hampshire

16-10,7-4America East

Binghamton

7-17,3-9America East

Binghamton

New Hampshire

Photo by: Larissa Biette

11/13/2021 8:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior right side Ari Pola (Auckland, New Zealand) recorded a match-high 18 kills to propel the University of New Hampshire volleyball team to Saturday afternoon's 3-1 Senior Day victory against Binghamton University at Lundholm Gym. The set scores were 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17.

Pola recorded her 18 kills on a .316 hitting percentage and had four assisted blocks for a match-high total of 20.0 points.

Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Serbousek (Fort Collins, Colo.) followed with 16 kills (.233 hitting percentage) and 17.5 points; she also tallied 13 digs. Classmate and middle blocker Gabby Smith (Carmel, Ind.) was next with nine kills and 10.5 points. Sophomore middle blocker Kelly Kaufmann (Raleigh, N.C.) had a match-high five blocks, including one solo, and six kills for a total of 9.0 points.

"I am tremendously proud of our senior group, very happy we were able to pull out a W today in their name," said UNH head coach Christopher Feliciano. "While we didn't play our best volleyball, our team continues to show how gritty we really are, in every challenge that has been presented to them during the season, we have overcome. It was a good day to be a Wildcat, very happy for our seniors, we will regroup and improve."

Junior setter Wren Macaulay (Lake Orion, Mich.) recorded 45 assists to quarterback UNH's offense to a .192 hitting percentage. She also contributed three service aces, 13 digs and two kills.

Sophomore libero Mia Pagliarini (Springboro, Ohio) led four Wildcats in double-digit digs with a match-high 31, and she also recorded five service aces. Classmate and defensive specialist Grace Tomann (Cold Spring, N.Y.) had 15, followed by Macaulay and Serbousek.

UNH is 6-1 the past seven matches to improve to 16-10 overall and 7-4 in America East; the 'Cats are also 9-3 at home.

Binghamton is now 7-17, 3-9.

New Hampshire concludes the regular season Sunday, Nov. 14 (7 p.m.) at Hartford. The Wildcats have already secured a berth in the America East tournament, which will be held Nov. 19-20.

Binghamton was led by Stefana Stan's 15 kills and 16.5 points. Emma Rainville had a team-high 14 assists and her 14 digs were also best on the team.

In Set 1, there were five ties and three lead changes but with the score tied at 17, UNH reeled off six consecutive points – three on kills by Pola – to build a 23-17 lead.

In Set 2, there were seven ties and three more lead changes. Trailing 13-11, Binghamton went on a 9-0 run to take a 20-13 advantage. The Wildcats responded with an 8-1 spurt to close within 23-21, but the Bearcats won the next to points to win the set and level the match, 1-1.

In Set 3, UNH held the visitors to a negative hitting percentage (-.027) to pull away after the score was tied 15-15. UNH won five of the next six points to surge ahead 20-16. The Bearcats closed within 20-19, but the Wildcats won the next three points to build a four-point cushion.

In Set 4, the Wildcats closed the match out with a .370 hitting percentage on 13 kills and three errors on 27 attacks. Leading 18-17, UNH won seven consecutive points to end the set and match. Pola had two kills and Pagliarini two service aces during the spurt.

New Hampshire honored three seniors prior to Saturday's match. In addition to Pola, outside hitter Kate Bilyeu (Omaha, Neb.) and middle blocker Abby Sullivan (Methuen, Mass.) were recognized for their contributions to the New Hampshire volleyball program.