For Immediate Release: September 3, 2005
Contact: Thomas Moore II (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

Binghamton volleyball wins final two matches at the Crusader Classic

Box Score vs. Siena
Box Score vs. St. John's

Day 1 Release

WORCESTER, Mass. - Binghamton (4-0) won its final two matches at the Crusader Classic, first defeating Siena (0-2) 3-2, then won 3-2 against St. John's (4-1) Saturday at the Hart Center. The Bearcats placed first in the two-day tournament. This is the first time in Division I history and the first since the 1997 season where the Binghamton volleyball team started 4-0. Junior setter Ashley Meffert (Louisville, Ky.) was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Against Siena, the Bearcats won 30-28, 30-27, 15-30, 27-30, 15-8. Binghamton was led by junior middle blocker Megan Hoag (Brunswick, Ohio) with 13 kills, 11 digs and three aces, while Meffert contributed with 49 assists and a team-high 15 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Jacki Kane (Centennial, Colo.) had 12 kills and 5 blocks and had a team high .333 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Katie Brody (Vestal, N.Y.) contributed 13 kills.

"It was a nice win against a tough team," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "It was an up and down match, but we fought hard and scored when we needed to."

In the second match against St. John's, Binghamton won by scores of 25-30, 30-28, 30-27, 25-30, 15-11. Brody led the way for the Bearcats with a team-high 20 kills and 16 digs. Hoag her fourth double-double of the season with 18 kills, 16 digs and hit .316 in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Kathleen Schauer (Littleton, Colo.) had 10 kills, 9 digs and a match-high .450 hitting percentage. Kane contributed with 10 kills and a pair of blocks. Meffert again had a great match with 57 assists and 8 digs. Junior outside hitter Katie Robertson (Ancaster, Ontario) contributed with 7 kills and 10 digs.

"It was a good match, from start to finish we played very intense," Kiriyama said. "We did not give up at during the match. The team finished strong in the fifth game. From blocking to hitting to some timely digs we played well all around. This was a nice victory for the team."

Binghamton host Syracuse on Tuesday for its first home game of the season at 7 p.m.

NOTE: Last season the Bearcats were 5-1 when the match came to a fifth game, this season they are 2-0.