VESTAL, N.Y. – UMBC sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) notched 11 kills, her highest total in nearly two weeks, but the UMBC volleyball team lost its America East opener for the third straight year, falling to Binghamton, 3-0 (25-22, 25-28, 25-12), Friday night at West Gymnasium.  Schmidt last totaled 11 kills in UMBC's 3-0 win over Robert Morris on Sept. 7 at the Madde Bingaman Tournament.

Schmidt was the only Retriever in double figure as freshmanSherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock), last week's America East Player and Rookie of the Week, was limited to just four kills.  Junior setter Mallory McIntyre (Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's Academy) dished out 23 assists while junior Hallie Carter(Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison) led UMBC (7-11) with eight digs.

Kristin Hovie led all hitters with 16 kills for Binghamton (4-12) while setter Amanda Dettermann finished with 41 assists in just three sets.  Alex Roland was also in double figures with 11 kills and Xiomara Ortiz paced the Bearcats with 12 digs.

In the opening set, neither team could get a hold of the contest with the score knotting nine times with the final one coming at 10-10 when Binghamton started a 4-0 run.  That run was all the hosts needed as they held off a few UMBC charges to claim the opening frame 25-22.

The Bearcats continued their roll into the second set, jumping to an 8-1 lead after a kill from Ortiz. The Retrievers were held off for a while, but then went on a 7-1 run, capped by a Schmidt kill, to cut the lead to just two at 19-17.  Binghamton then ran off five consecutive points and six of the final seven to take a 2-0 set lead with a 25-18 win in the second.

The final set followed a similar pattern as Binghamton once again took an early lead and held off a rally from the visitors.  After the Bearcats opened a six-point cushion, 11-5, the Retrievers could never recover as the hosts ran away with a 25-12 set win.

The Retrievers now have the remainder of the weekend off before opening their America East home schedule next week against New Hampshire on Friday, Sept. 28 at the RAC Arena.  UMBC then hosts Providence on Sunday, Sept. 30 to close the weekend.

DAWG BITES

-          UMBC now trails the all-time series with Binghamton 14-9.

-          The Bearcats' win breaks a five-match win streak that the Retrievers held in the series. Binghamton had last defeated UMBC on Nov. 7, 2009.

-          UMBC is now 5-5 all-time in America East Conference openers.

-          The Retrievers are now 1-2 against Binghamton in conference opening contests.