Seniors Lead Way to 3-1 Win vs. Binghamton

Sunday, November 13

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

19-10, 10-2AE

Binghamton University

13-13, 7-5AE

Binghamton

UNH

Photo by: Elise Austin-Washburn

11/13/2016 7:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Video Highlights

Wildcats Win America East Title Outright

DURHAM, N.H. – Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.) recorded a match-high 15 kills and Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Calif.) tallied 43 assists to propel the University of New Hampshire volleyball team to Sunday afternoon's 3-1 victory against Binghamton University at Lundholm Gymnasium. The set scores were 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16.

UNH claimed the America East regular-season title outright with the victory as the Wildcats closed the regular season with eight consecutive wins to improve to 19-10 overall and 10-2 in America East.

Binghamton ends the regular season at 13-13, 7-5.

New Hampshire is top seed and host of the America East Championship for the fourth consecutive year; the 'Cats won the regular-season and tourney titles each of the past three years.

UNH will face fourth-seeded Binghamton in a Nov. 18 (7 p.m.) semifinals match. University at Albany and UMBC will battle in the 4 p.m. semifinal. The winners advance to the Nov. 19 (4 p.m.) title game.

New Hampshire Team Stats
52 kills / 19 errors / .231 hitting percentage
48 assists
7 services aces / 10 service errors
66 digs
3 blocks (all assisted)

Binghamton Team Stats
41 kills / 24 errors / .115 hitting percentage
37 assists
6 service ace / 8 service errors
58 digs
10 blocks (all assisted)

UNH Individual Leaders
Demi Muses (Orangevale, Calif.): 15 kills, .355 hit%, seven digs, three service aces
Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.): 43 assists, 10 digs
Sara Carlson (Hutchinson, Minn.): 13 digs
Kennedi Smith (The Woodlands, Texas): eight kills, 15 digs
Emily Tanski (Plymouth, Mich.): 12 kills, .235 hit%, 12 digs, two blocks
Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.): nine kills, .471 hit%, two blocks

Binghamton Individual Leaders
Lauren Kornmann: 12 kills, .211 hit%, three blocks
Gaby Alicea: eight kills, four blocks
Sarah Ngo: 34 assists, 12 digs, three blocks
Bailey Walker: 23 digs

Up Next: Nov. 18 vs. Binghamton, America East Championship semifinal, 7 p.m.

THE DIFFERENCE

With the match tied at one set apiece, UNH closed out the match with a .333 hitting percentage in Set 3 and a mark of .345 in Set 4.

SET 1

UNH inched out to a 4-1 lead, but Binghamton replied with a 6-1 run to go ahead 7-5.
There were a total of 11 ties in the set, including 7 through 14.
With the score tied at 14, the Wildcats won four consecutive points – two on kills by Smith – to take a lead they would not relinquish.
The Bearcats closed within 19-18, but then a service error and attack error pushed UNH's advantage to three points.
Once again the margin was reduced to one point, but Tanksi recorded back-to-back kills to yet again extend the cushion to three, points, 23-20.
Binghamton called its last timeout, but Olhava closed out the set with consecutive kills to give the 'Cats the set 25-20.

SET 2

The Bearcats built an 8-4 lead and then a 4-0 run extended the visitor's advantage to 16-10.
A kill and service ace by Muses capped an 8-2 run that tied the score, 18-18.
Binghamton responded with three consecutive points to prevent the 'Cats from taking their first lead of the set.
The Bearcats led 22-20 and closed out the second set with three straight points to level the match.
After hitting just .108 in the first set, Binghamton rebounded with a mark of .323 in Set 2.

SET 3

After Binghamton won the first point, UNH reeled off four consecutive points, the last three of which came on Bearcats' attack errors.
The visitors rallied to tie the score at 7, but New Hampshire went on a 4-0 run – Muses tallied a kill and block – to take an 11-7 lead that would not be relinquished.
Binghamton closed within 12-11, but Tanski's kill denied the visitors from knotting up the score.
UNH led by two points, 15-13, when consecutive kills by Olhava and Petke reestablished a four-point margin and prompted a Bearcats' timeout.
BU once again closed within two points, but UNH pulled away with back-to-back-to-back kills by Petke and Muses (two) to advance the score to 20-15 and force another timeout.
Leading 21-18, the Wildcats closed in on the third set with a 3-0 spurt that included a kill by Tanski and ace by Muses. Binghamton fought off one set point, but then Olhava sent down a thunderous kill to end the set.

SET 4

It was close early with three tie scores and Binghamton leading 7-5.
Smith's kill ignited a 9-0 run that gave UNH command of the set and match. Smith immediately followed that kill with a pair of service aces and Muses tallies two kills during the decisive spurt.
Consecutive kills by Olhava, Muses and Tanski extended the advantage to double digits, 20-10.
UNH's three seniors – Muses, Severtson and Carlson – exited the game at match point to a standing ovation, and another Smith kill ended the match.
New Hampshire's defensive effort with 17 digs and two blocks, helped stymie the Bearcats to a negative hitting percentage (-.061) in Set 4.

'CAT NIPS

Carlson, Muses and Severtson were honored on Senior Day prior to their last regular-season match at Lundholm Gym.
Tanski recorded her 11^th double-double of the season.
Severtson registered her sixth double-double of the year.
Muses is UNH's candidate for the America East Volleyball Fans' Choice Player of the Year. Vote online at AEFansChoice.com until Nov. 15 at 12 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on the volleyball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL.