VESTAL, N.Y. – For the second time in the last three weeks, the Binghamton volleyball team has received three out of a possible four weekly awards from the America East Conference.
On Monday, the league announced that
Merima Smajlovic was named Player of the Week,
Regan Kadel was selected as the Setter of the Week and
Emily Cronkhite was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Week. It is the second time this season that each player has earned their respective award.
This follows Binghamton's 3-0 victory at defending America East tournament champion New Hampshire on Nov. 14 to close out its regular season. Against the Wildcats, Smajlovic narrowly missed out on her 15th double double of the season as she posted 19 kills and nine digs. Additionally, she added four total blocks and two service aces. The senior ranks third in the America East in kills per set at 3.52, registering a career-high 334 across 95 sets. Smajlovic previously was named Player of the Week by the America East on Sept. 16.
Kadel, who is receiving her honor for the second time in three weeks, has emerged as one of the top setters in the conference over the last month. The sophomore put up 39 assists against the Wildcats, making it the fifth time in her last six matches that she has recorded that many assists, including in each of her last four. Kadel has risen to having the fourth-most assists per set in the America East at 6.24, just behind her teammate
Alexandra Koleva's 6.25.
Cronkhite led the Bearcats with 12 digs against the Wildcats, snapping her streak of three consecutive matches with at least 20. She also added three assists and one service ace for Binghamton against UNH. The senior continues to lead the America East in digs per set against conference opponents at 4.85, registering 194 across 40 sets.
Binghamton, who finished the regular season tied for third in its conference at 6-4, now prepares to compete in the America East Volleyball Championship for the fourth season in a row. The No. 4 seed Bearcats go up against No. 1 UMBC in the semifinals at 4 p.m., on Friday at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Md. If Binghamton wins, they will face either No. 2 Bryant or No. 3 UAlbany in the finals at 4 p.m., on Saturday, with the champion being awarded an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
