VESTAL, N.Y. - Regular season champion and top-seeded Binghamton volleyball (17-7) begins its quest for a fourth postseason title this weekend when the Bearcats host the four-team America East Championship at West Gym. The Bearcats will face fourth-seeded New Hampshire (18-9) in Saturday's first semifinal at 1 p.m. Second-seeded UMBC (15-8) and third-seeded Bryant (19-11) square off at 4 p.m. in the other semifinal. The two winners will meet in Sunday's 1 p.m. title match with the America East champion gaining a berth to the NCAA tournament. 

The dominance of the four postseason teams is noted on the all-conference team, where all 14 selections came from the tournament teams, including a conference-high five from the Bearcats.

Binghamton will enter the postseason having won four straight and seven of its last eight against conference foes. The Bearcats are 5-1 against the field this season, having swept UNH and Bryant and split two matches with UMBC. Binghamton led the league in attack percentage and blocking. Junior outside hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva was unanimously voted America East Player of the Year after a dominant season that produced 331 kills (3.76/set) and 32 aces. Junior hitter Stefana Stan joined Ilieva on the all-conference first team after amassing 200 kills and hitting .264. 

Rounding out BU's awards were second team all-conference selections, senior middle Anna Spryse and freshmen Giulia Bonifacio and Lottie Scully. Bonifacio and Scully also earned All-Rookie honors and Sprys and Stan also collected All-Academic honors. 

Each of the four teams in the field boasts a major award winner. Bryant has the Setter of the Year (Mia Cergol), UMBC has the Defensive Specialist of the Year (Aysia Miller) and UNH has the Rookie of the Year (Kara Oxenknecht). In addition to Player of the Year Ilieva, first year BU coach Allie Yaeger and her assistant CJ Werneke were voted the Coaching Staff of the Year. 

Daily tournament tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for youth ages 6-12. Tickets for America East students with valid ID are $2. Binghamton undergraduate students will receive complimentary admission with their student IDs.    

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov. 19 - West Gym
1 p.m. - No. 1 Binghamton vs. No. 4 New Hampshire | ESPN+ | live stats
4 p.m. - No. 2 UMBC vs. No. 3 Bryant | ESPN+ | live stats

Sunday, Nov. 20 - West Gym
1 p.m. - Championship Match | ESPN+ | live stats