Crocus named tournament MVP as Binghamton wins Columbia Volleyball Classic

Binghamton-Columbia Box
Binghamton-Winthrop Box
Binghamton-Rider Box

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Binghamton (8-5) won all three of its matches this weekend to capture the 9th Annual Volleyball Classic this weekend. It marks the first time that the Bearcats have won a tournament since taking the 2000 ECAC Division II Tournament.

"We played well this weekend," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "We got better each match. Our blocking and hitting at the net is what made us do so well."

On Friday, Binghamton (5-5) dropped the first game of the match before storming back to take the next three to defeat host Columbia in the opening match of the 9th Annual Columbia Volleyball Classic on Friday. The scores were 26-30, 30-22, 30-26, 30-25.

"We started out slow, but played better as the match went on," head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. "It was a good team effort."

Junior Anne Crocus (Bethlehem, Pa.) led the offensive charge with 21 kills and only three errors (.429 attack percentage). Classmate Michele Heck (Chicago, Ill.) had 14 kills and nine digs, and senior Allison Beard (Elkland, Pa.) added 10 kills and four blocks. Freshman setter Ashley Meffert (Louisville, Ky.) collected 53 assists and three aces, and senior Shannon Kelly (Ridge, N.Y.) was a spark with three aces.

"Our middles did a good job hitting and getting hands on a lot of balls with blocks," Kiriyama said. "Shannon (Kelly) did great job serving and getting us points at the end of the third and fourth games. But we need to play a little better tomorrow."

On Saturday morning, Binghamton defeated Winthrop 30-27, 23-30, 30-21, 32-30. Heck had 16 kills and hit .361 while Crocus turned in 17 kills and nine blocks. Meffert had 50 assists and six blocks.

In its final, and perhaps most impressive match of the weekend, Binghamton defeated Rider 30-15, 30-21, 30-14 on Saturday afternoon. Crocus had 12 kills and seven blocks, Heck had six kills and hit .357, while Meffert had 31 assists and 12 digs.

"Crocus was dominant at the net on Saturday," Kiriyama said. "No one really had an answer for her."

NOTE: Crocus was named the tournament MVP. Heck and Meffert were also named to the All-Tournament team.