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Volleyball Bearcat Classic Preview Photo

Volleyball Looks to Continue Success in 2024

| By: Anna Harris (aharris19@binghamton.edu)

Binghamton opens the 2024 slate with the Bearcat Classic this Friday

VESTAL, N.Y. (binghamtonbearcats.com) - The Binghamton Volleyball team looks to continue its recent success into the 2024 season this Friday. The Bearcats open the fall slate at home this weekend with three matches at the Bearcat Classic.

Binghamton plays its first match against Merrimack, Friday, at 10 a.m. The team will then play one more match Friday night against Toledo at 7 p.m. The Bearcats will finish up classic play on Saturday against Bucknell at 1:30 p.m.

THE BEARCAT CLASSIC
Binghamton opens the 2024 slate with The Bearcat Classic for the third straight season this weekend. Binghamton is 5-1 in Bearcat Classic play and went 3-0 last year to claim the title.

"I love hosting opening weekend, especially at home," Head Coach Allie Yaeger said. "I wouldn't have it any other way, can't ask for more than being on our home court in front of our own fans."

"We're going to be tested big time against these tough teams, I'm excited to see what we look like under pressure, against good competition," she added.  

SERIES HISTORY
Binghamton leads the all-time series over Merrimack, 5-0. The Bearcats swept the Warriors 3-0 in their last meeting to open the 2023 Bearcat Classic, Aug. 25, 2023.

Toledo owns a 2-0 series lead over Binghamton. The Rockets won the teams last matchup 3-0, Aug. 28, 2018, in Toledo, Ohio.

The Bearcats won their sole meeting with the Bison 3-0, Nov. 9, 2001, in Vestal.

HOME SWEET HOME
For the first time in program history, all of Binghamton's 2024 home matches will take place in the Events Center. Last year, the Bearcats split time between the school's West Gym and the current arena.

"Being in the Events Center just gives you a different feel," said Yaeger. "We play so well here, we can do so much for the players and the program with the video board and size of the space." 

"I can't tell you how many alumni reached out saying it was their dream to play in the Events Center. It just shows how our program continually steps in the right direction," she added. 

PRESEASON POLL
Binghamton Volleyball was picked to finish second in the America East by the league's coaches, the conference announced Monday afternoon. The Bearcats earned 20 points and one first-place vote. 

New this season, 2023 Player of the Year Tsvetelina Ilieva and Rookie of the Year Misa Dlouha were picked to the first America East Preseason All-Conference honor roll. 

Last year's tournament champion UMBC took the top spot with 24 points and four first-place votes while New Hampshire followed with 18 points and one first-place vote. Bryant and UAlbany were next with 14 and nine points, respectively, while NJIT finished last with five points. 

LAST SEASON
The Bearcats 2023 season brought the team to its second consecutive America East Championship. As the third seed, Binghamton completed a comeback win over UNH to advance to the championship final for the first time since 2017 but fell to UMBC in the final match.

The 2023 Bearcats set three new team records last season for service aces per match (6.64), digs per match (51.79) and total blocks per match (10.48).

KEY RETURNERS & BRAND NEW BEARCATS
Binghamton welcomes ten returners to the 2024 roster. Along with Ilieva and Dlouha, key Bearcat returners include graduate right side hitter Lydia Adam, senior defensive specialist Sydney Aguirre, sophomore libero/defensive specialist Brenda Reynaga, sophomore outside hitter Ella Schabort and junior setter Lottie Scully.

"We talk constantly about rebuilding," Yaeger said. "We look good, we're finally experienced and I think we can really do big things this year." 

Two-time AVCA All-American and America East Player of the Year Ilieva returns to the court for her third and final season at Binghamton this fall. The fifth-year outside hitter broke the Bearcats single-season record for kills per set (4.22) in 2023. 

Reigning America East Rookie of the Year Dlouha looks to continue her success in her second year. Last season, Dlouha led the conference in total blocks (141) and blocks per set (1.34). She also ranked among the top-10 in the conference in aces, aces per set and hitting percentage. 

Second Team All-Conference honorees Schabort and Scully also return for the Bearcats this fall. A two-time America East Rookie of the Week last season, Schabort ranked among the top 10 in the conference for total kills, kills per set, total points and points per set in 2023. Scully, a four-time America East Setter of the Week, took first in the conference last season with 679 total assists.

In 2023, Adam ranked ninth in the America East last season with a .253 attack percentage and hit above .300 in 12 matches, including three matches at .500 or higher. As the libero, Reynaga is expected to lead the Bearcats defense after she played in 11 matches last season and collected 181 digs. 

"We have the experience, we have been playing together a really long time, Lottie, Tsvet, even Misa and Ella now," Yaeger said. "But still a lot of new players will be seeing playing time and there will definitely be new faces in the lineups this year."

Two transfers and six freshmen highlight the Bearcats most recent signing class. 

Graduate middle blocker Johanna Remy and junior libero/defensive specialist Emily Cronkhite join Binghamton from the University of Geneva in Switzerland and Illinois Central College, respectively. A 2023 NJCAA First-Team All-American, Cronkite ranked second nationally with 934 digs last season.

Freshman setter Regan Kadel, right side hitters Eleanor Dorritie and Viktoria Dimitrova, outside hitters Haiden Fuhrmann and Briana Binagi, as well as middle blocker Sophia Holland all join the Bearcats for their first collegiate seasons this fall.  

'It's an exciting time to be a part of Bearcat Volleyball," said Yaeger. "The future's bright." 

ON THE SCHEDULE 
The 2024 campaign will feature nine home matches and 22 road contests, including four invitationals at the start of the season. The Bearcats are set to see 18 non conference opponents and five familiar America East faces. 

Binghamton's non conference schedule includes competition from the nation's top conferences in Boston College, Sept. 7, Rutgers, Sept. 12, and West Virginia, Sept. 21. The team is set to face off against Northeast Conference opponents Merrimack, Central Connecticut, Le Moyne and LIU. The Bearcats will see three Patriot League foes in Bucknell, Aug. 31, Colgate, Oct. 16, and Lehigh, Nov. 13.  

Binghamton is also set to see competition from the Mid-American, Big East, Metro Atlantic Athletic, Colonial Athletic, Atlantic 10, Ivy League and American conferences.

"It's a tough schedule but we're ready for it," Yaeger said. "I've been waiting to have a tough schedule like this. It gives our players a chance to face the physicality from some of these tough teams." 

Next up, Binghamton hits the road for a short trip to Villanova, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. The team then heads to the Fairfield Invitational, Sept. 6-7, for matches against Central Connecticut, hosts Fairfield and Boston College. Binghamton's third invitational brings the squad to Piscataway, N.J., Sept. 12-13, to compete against hosts Rutgers and VCU. 

The Bearcats' final invitational takes them to the Bronx for the Rose Hill Classic, Sept. 20-21,  where the team faces off against hosts Fordham and West Virginia to close out tournament play. 
Binghamton returns to Vestal for homecoming weekend, Sept. 27-28, to start conference play against UAlbany and LIU inside the Events Center. The team then faces a rematch against America East Champion, UMBC, Oct. 4, next on the road. 

The Bearcats host Bryant, Oct. 6, before heading out for a three-game road stand at Temple, Oct. 9, New Hampshire, Oct. 13, and Colgate, Oct. 16. The team plays NJIT at home, Oct. 20, then travels to UAlbany, Oct. 25, and Bryant, Nov. 1. Binghamton concludes its home slate the following weekend against UMBC, Nov. 8, and New Hampshire, Nov. 10. The Bearcats finish up regular season play on the road next at Lehigh, Nov. 13, and NJIT, Nov. 17. 

"There could be so much at stake in our last weekend of conference play, facing UMBC and New Hampshire at home," said Yaeger. "Between those three teams we should all be peaking, playing our best volleyball."

"That is going to be a crazy, fun, terrifying weekend for us - but we're ready," she added. 

The 2024 America East Championship is scheduled for Nov. 22-23. 

PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE 
Binghamton is set to hold multiple game promotions during the 2024 home slate. 

"Anything that can get our community out to our games is a good thing," Yaeger said. "Our crowd will grow every year we get better and the more exciting it is to watch us play." 

After the Bucknell match this Saturday at 1:30 p.m., fans can receive Binghamton Volleyball posters signed by the Bearcats themselves. Next, the Sept. 27 and Sept. 29 matches against UAlbany and LIU, respectively, will be included in the weekend's Homecoming Festivities. 

The Bearcats match against Bryant, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m. is Youth Day. Kids are invited for a post-match "Bump with a Bearcat" on the Events Center floor. Then Binghamton will host its Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness night against NJIT, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m..

The final weekend of play will see International Student Night & Staff Appreciation against UMBC, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m on Friday night. The following Sunday afternoon, Binghamton will host Senior Day vs. New Hampshire, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. 

"Anything we can do to promote this sport, to promote our players and to be role models for girls in the community is awesome," she added. 

THE OUTLOOK
With two consecutive trips to the America East Championship and no title earned, Yaeger says now is the time for the Bearcats. 

"When you look back at the last couple of seasons, every single year we've taken a step forward. This year, it's championship day, its championship rings, it's the NCAA tournament. That's it - that's the next step for the program and we want it." 

UP NEXT 
Binghamton hits the road to compete at Villanova, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.

 
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