With a five set win against Binghamton on Saturday, the Pirates volleyball team finished the Maryland Invitational with a 2-1 record bringing their season record to 4-1.
The win over Binghamton was in response to the Hall dropping a match to Ohio State earlier in the day, in three sets. The Buckeyes entered the Invitational having just dropped out of the AVCA Coaches Poll Top 25.
In their first match of the weekend against Maryland on Friday night, the Pirates split the first two sets with the Terrapins before winning the third and fourth set for the 3-1 victory. The win improved the team's record to 3-0, at the time, their best start since the 2003 season.
In the Pirates final match of the weekend against Binghamton they started the match winning the first two sets, the first one easily, 25-16 and a tight second set 26-24.
In the third set the Hall was one point away from dropping their first one of the match at 24-23 until a kill from freshman Amanda Hansen and an error from the Bearcats put the Pirates up 25-24. After trading points the Hall held a 28-27 advantage before three straight points from the Bearcats won the set for them 30-28.
Binghamton followed the third set win with a dominating 25-15 fourth set victory sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
Starting the set on a 4-0 followed by a 6-1 run the Pirates took a commanding 10-2 lead. The Hall finished off the set with a kill by Hansen for the 15-6 victory.
Hansen and fellow freshman Molly Grammer led the team with 11 kills while sophomore Shelbey and Stacey Manthorpe both collected double-doubles with 32 assists and 12 digs and 10 kills and 13 digs respectively.
The Pirates return to action Tuesday when the Hall hits the road again to face Hofstra.
Stephen Valenti can be reached at Stephen.valenti@student.shu.edu
