VESTAL, N.Y. - Emily Cronkhite has been named the America East Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. 
 
This is Cronkhite's first America East honor since joining Binghamton in 2024.  On Oct. 17, the senior libero/defensive specialist from Metamora, Ill., provided a team-high 25 digs, averaging five digs per set, and added in six assists in Binghamton's 3-2 victory over defending America East tournament champion New Hampshire. She currently leads the league in digs per set against conference opponents at 5.05, the only player with at least five.
 
This was Cronkhite's fourth match with at least 20 digs this season. She recorded a season-high 27 digs in a 3-2 win over NJIT on Oct. 5. She also provided 25 and 20 digs in victories against Bucknell (Sept. 13) and UMBC (Oct. 3).
 
Cronkhite is the first Bearcat to be named Defensive Player of the Week since Sept. 10, 2024, when Misa Dlouha earned the honor. Overall, this is the fifth weekly award Binghamton has received from the America East this season. Merima Smajlovic was named Player of the Week on Sept. 16, while Maya Coblentz-Brown has been named Rookie of the Week three times (Sept. 9, Sept. 16 and Oct. 7).
 
Binghamton continues play at 6 p.m., on Wednesday at New Haven in what is the Bearcats' final non-conference match of the regular season.

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