VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton volleyball team (12-13, 6-4 America East) is set to compete in the America East Volleyball Championship for the fourth year in a row as the No. 4 seed Bearcats take on No. 1 UMBC (11-11, 7-3 America East) in the semifinals at 4 p.m., Friday at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES VS. UMBC

• UMBC leads the all-time series 28-24.
• The two teams split their pair of matches this season. Binghamton first won 3-1 at the Events Center on Oct. 3, before UMBC swept the Bearcats in Baltimore on Oct. 26.

 
BACK IN THE POSTSEASON
Binghamton is appearing in the America East Volleyball Championship for the 15th time in program history. The Bearcats have appeared in the America East Volleyball Championship in each of the last four seasons. The last time Binghamton made four consecutive trips to the conference tournament was from 2014-17. Binghamton has compiled a record of 9-11 throughout all of its appearances in the tournament, having won the championship in 2005, 2009 and 2012.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bearcats closed out their regular season on a strong note, defeating defending America East tournament champion New Hampshire 3-0 on Nov. 14 in Durham, N.H. Merima Smajlovic posted 19 kills and nine digs. With the win, Binghamton finished the regular season tied for third in the America East standings along with UAlbany at 6-4 in league play.
 
ALL-CONFERECE ACCOLADES
Both Viktoria Dimitrova and Smajlovic received First Team All-Conference honors from the America East on Wednesday. It is the first time that either player has earned First Team All-Conference honors from the America East. Smajlovic ranks third in the America East in kills per set (3.52), fourth in points per set (3.93) and sixth in digs per set (3.09). Dimitrova, meanwhile, is fifth in the America East in both kills per set (3.44) and points per set (3.90). With Binghamton also having three First Team selections in 2024, this marks the first time the Bearcats have had multiple players selected to the First Team in consecutive seasons since 2005 (2) and 2006 (3).
 
ROOKIES ON THE RISE
Both Maya Coblentz-Brown and Francesca Pierdonati were selected for the America East's All-Rookie Team. Coblentz-Brown ranks eighth in the America East in both kills per set (2.68) and hitting percentage (.273). Pierdonati, who leads the Bearcats with 65 total blocks, is sixth in the America East in blocks per set (0.87). This marks the third time in the last four seasons that Binghamton has had at least two players chosen for the All-Rookie Team.
 
AND THE WINNER IS…
Following Binghamton's win at New Hampshire, the Bearcats picked up three out of a possible four weekly awards from the America East. Smajlovic was named Player of the Week for the second time this season (Sept. 16), Regan Kadel was named Setter of the Week for the second time in three weeks and Emily Cronkhite was chosen as Defensive Player of the Week. She previously received the honor on Oct. 21.
 
THAT'S SO REGAN
Kadel's conference honor followed her posting 39 assists in Binghamton's victory against UNH. The sophomore has recorded at least 39 assists in five of her last six matches, including in each of her last four. To be named Setter of the Week the first time on Nov. 4, Kadel put up two of the strongest performances of her career. She recorded 52 assists against UAlbany on Oct. 31, followed by a career-high 60 at NJIT on Nov. 2. Her 60 assists against NJIT are the most from any America East player in a match this season. Kadel has risen to ranking fourth in the America East in assists per set (6.24), just behind teammate Alexandra Koleva (6.25).
 
WE HAVE SOMEONE THERE
Cronkhite leads the America East in digs per set against conference opponents at 4.85, putting up 194 digs throughout 40 sets played. The libero/defensive specialist put up 12 digs agaisnt New Hampshire, snapping her streak of having three consecutive matches of at least 20 digs. The last Bearcat to record at least 20 digs in three consecutive matches was Bailey Walker, who had a streak of eight in 2014. Her final total of 558 digs that year remains Binghamton's single-season program record.
BEARCATS AT THE BLOCK PARTY
Along with Pierdonati, Sophia Holland also ranks in the top 10 in the America East in blocks per set. Holland is eight in the conference in blocks per set at 0.82. Pierdonati has recorded at least three total blocks in each of her last four matches.
 
NEAR THE TOP
As a team, Binghamton is second in the America East hitting percentage (.226), kills per set (12.77), digs per set (15.03) and opponent service aces per set (1.57).
 
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