The Binghamton University volleyball team ended the Bearcat Classic with a 1-2 record. The tournament, held over the weekend, saw BU start strong with a victory over Merrimack but falter against Toledo and Bucknell.
Binghamton head coach Allie Yaeger expressed her disappointment with the team’s performance. “It was a very disappointing weekend for us,” she said. “I know they can play better. They look good in practice, and they’re very talented, smart, and experienced.”
In their opening match, Binghamton (1-2) dominated Merrimack (0-3) with a 3-0 win, taking the sets 25-16, 25-14, and 25-23. The Bearcats showcased strong defensive play, limiting Merrimack to a hitting percentage of 0.081 while hitting 0.329 themselves.
“We have a lot of returners and new talent,” Yaeger noted. “These first few weeks are about figuring out the best lineup for conference play.”
The second match saw Binghamton fall to Toledo (3-0), with the team losing in straight sets: 25-18, 25-12, and 25-22. BU struggled offensively, hitting just 0.158 compared to Toledo’s 0.353.
“We need to find a way to put it all together,” Yaeger said. “We have talented players, but it’s about how quickly we can gel as a team.”
In their final match, Binghamton was swept 3-0 by Bucknell (2-1) with set scores of 25-21, 25-16, and 25-14. The first set was closely contested until Bucknell pulled away with a decisive 5-2 run. Binghamton’s errors, including 18 attack errors and 10 service errors, contributed to their loss.
“We can’t win if we don’t execute well,” Yaeger said. “We gave away 28 points through errors.”
Junior libero Emily Cronkhite was a standout, earning all-tournament honors with 27 digs across the three games. With many new players on the roster, Binghamton’s preseason focus will be on refining lineups and offensive strategies, rotating between a 5-1 and 6-2 offense.
“Cronkhite was our most consistent player,” Yaeger said. “Her service and overall ball control were excellent. She needs to continue improving to keep up with the pace of our conference.”
Binghamton’s next match is on the road against Villanova on Wednesday, Sept. 4, with the first serve scheduled for 7 p.m. at Jake Nevin Field House in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
