VESTAL, N.Y. – For fourth year Binghamton Head Volleyball Coach Allie Yaeger, the 2024 America East Volleyball Championship still holds a strong presence in her memory.
 
"Losing last year to UAlbany in the first round hit really hard for a lot of people on this team, and for me," she said. "It's a game that I will never forget because of the players that were on the floor and the atmosphere that the Events Center created."
 
In 2024, the Bearcats, who took home their second America East Conference regular season championship in three seasons, aimed to win their first league tournament championship under Yaeger. But in one game, everything changed. UAlbany took down Binghamton in the semifinals of their conference tournament 3-1, ending the Bearcats' hopes of receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Binghamton ultimately qualified for the National Invitational Volleyball Championship for the second time in three years, falling to Bowling Green in the opening round 3-1.
 
With the end of the season came the departure of several key contributors for Binghamton. Most notably, the loss of three-time All-American Tsvetelina Ilieva, who left as the program's all-time leader in kills per set (4.26). Now, Yaeger looks to help the Bearcats take their next step forward with 11 newcomers and seven returners.
 
"Every day is learning, not only to play our system and to play Bearcat volleyball, but also learning who's playing to the left and right of you and what type of relationship do you have to build with them in order for this whole puzzle to come together when we need it to come together," said Yaeger.
 
The Returners
Of the players returning to Binghamton in 2025, arguably none have greater expectations than sophomore right side hitter Viktoria Dimitrova. The native of Bulgaria was selected to the America East Preseason All-Conference after making the league's All-Rookie Team in 2024. In her first season in Vestal, she was fourth on the Bearcats in both kills (225) and kills per set (2.06). Over the summer, she also gained additional experience by competing for Bulgaria in the FIVB Women's U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia. Dimitrova helped Bulgaria finish in fourth place while she picked up 47 digs, 40 attack points, 11 block points and two serve points in nine games.
 
"From the second I recruited Vicky, it was to replace Tsvet," said Yaeger. "That was always going to be the game plan down the line, and it was so nice that they got to play together for one season where Vicky could see the role that Tsvet played on this team both on and off the floor, just to be a leader in the community and on campus."
 
While Yaeger knows that Ilieva cannot be replaced, she hopes that Dimitrova is to create her own legacy.
 
"Our expectation for Vicky is, yeah I would like for her to dominate on our team and in this conference, but to grow as a player," said Yaeger.
 
Helping Dimitrova is senior libero Emily Cronkhite, one of two team captains on the team. Joining Binghamton in 2024 following her All-American season at Illinois Central College the prior year, Cronkhite led the Bearcats with 316 digs while also collecting 82 assists.
 
One of the freshmen in 2024 who gained a lot of experience on the court was outside hitter Briana Binagi. While playing in 29 sets, Binagi had four kills for Binghamton. Now she is set to have a larger role for the team heading into her sophomore season.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Sophia Holland attempts to establish herself at the top of the depth chart at her position after only playing in six matches in 2024. In six matches, she recorded 10 blocks and 10 kills, with five of those kills coming in the Bearcats' 3-2 victory against power conference foe Boston College on Sept. 7, 2024.
 
Yaeger anticipates sophomore setter Regan Kadel to get a lot of playing time this season. She had eight assists in two sets the prior year.
 
The Newcomers
While several newcomers on Binghamton can expect to have a significant role on the team, Yaeger knows that she has to be careful with her expectations considering all of the challenges the group faces.
 
"I don't want to put too much pressure on them because being a part of a fall sport and being a freshman is a lot to handle," said Yaeger. "You get hit with everything brand new right off the bat. You're getting hit with college classes, and being away from home and being away from family, and a new team and new coaches, and Division I volleyball and travel, and all that kind of stuff. So, we just really try and build our relationships with everyone."
 
Joining Cronkhite as the other team captain is senior outside hitter Merima Smajlovic. The native of Turkey transfers to Binghamton from Seattle. In three seasons with the Redhawks, Smajlovic posted 650 digs, 448 kills, 80 aces and 74 blocks. 
 
Another transfer is graduate setter Alexandra Koleva. While playing at Florida A&M in 2024, the Bulgarian averaged 7.13 assists per set, leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference in that category. She went on to earn All-SWAC First Team honors.
 
Multiple freshmen bring a strong resume with them to Binghamton. Eve Roman, who is both a libero and defensive specialist, was a 2024 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Watchlist member while playing for Immaculate Heart Academy in New Jersey. 
 
Outside hitter Selestine Liu Asomua, who played for W.C. Miller Collegiate, represented her native province of Manitoba in the 2025 Canada Summer Games in August. Liu Asomua competed in beach volleyball, finishing in sixth place in the event. 
 
Also competing on the international stage, middle blocker Matilda Tjernqvist has played with the national teams in Sweden. She has won two North European Volleyball Zonal Association (NEVZA) gold medals (U17, U19) and a bronze (U19). She also was named to multiple all-star teams at the U18 Swedish Championships and served as captain of her 2022 U17 NEVZA team. Additionally, Tjernqvist's club team, Habo, brought home the U16 Swedish Championship in 2021.
 
The Coaches
Yaeger not only has newcomers on the court this season, but also on the bench with her. Three new assistant coaches join her staff this season, including one she has worked with in the past.
 
Chris Weathers reunites with Yaeger after the two worked together at Seton Hall from 2018-22. Weathers focused primarily on defense during his time with the Pirates, taking over a similar role at Binghamton.
 
"Everything comes very easy for me and Chris because we've known each other for so long," said Yaeger. "He already is two steps ahead of me and already knows what I'm thinking, which is so nice to have."
 
Jaidan Degear arrives at Binghamton after serving as a student assistant coach at SUNY Cortland from 2022-24. She contributed to practice planning, skill development and game strategy during her time with the Red Dragons. With the Bearcats, she has been focusing on working with the liberos.
 
Finally, Andrew Kim enters his first season as a volunteer assistant coach after completing a decorated playing career. In six seasons between his time at Vassar (2020-23) and Hobart (2024-25), he earned All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on five occasions between his time at Vassar and Hobart College, the first player in NCAA Division III history to accomplish that feat. He was also named National Player of the Year by the AVCA in 2023, the first player in Vassar men's volleyball history to receive that honor. Additionally, Kim holds the all-time career kills record in NCAA Division III with 1,828 in 443 sets. Since joining the Binghamton coaching staff, Yaeger has been able to use Kim as an extra player on the floor during practice.
 
"They have provided me with so much help that I can focus on a lot more other things that I wasn't able to focus on the last three seasons," said Yaeger. "So with the addition of them, it's just been so helpful to me personally."
 
The Schedule
Following Binghamton's loss to UAlbany in the America East tournament in 2024, Yaeger came to a conclusion regarding how her team's schedule in 2025 should look.
 
"I'm just like 'we got to play more games in here [at the Events Center] to get used to the atmosphere and just to get used to the arena,'" she said. "And I'm not using that as an excuse as to why we lost, but I want that atmosphere as much as we can. So if we do host the conference tournament this year, we're ready."
 
Fans have plenty of chances to see Binghamton play at the Events Center in 2025. The Bearcats are scheduled to play 14 matches in its home gym. Not only will Binghamton host Fordham, Lehigh, and UConn for the Bearcat Classic from Aug. 29-30 for the fourth year in a row, but the team will also hold a series of matches as part of the Binghamton Invitational from Sept. 12-13. That tournament also features Bucknell, Canisius and Mercyhurst competing in the Southern Tier.
 
Aside from their two home tournaments and five America East Conference opponents, the Bearcats will also welcome Hofstra, Villanova and Colgate to Vestal in 2025. On the road, Binghamton competes in the Black Knight Invitational against Army, Hofstra, and Rider from Sept. 5-7 as well as the Michigan State Invitational against MSU, Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Bowling Green from Sept. 18-20. Additionally, the Bearcats play at New Haven, who enters its first season in Division I, on Oct. 22.
 
The Goal
When asked what constitutes a good season for the Bearcats, Yaeger had a quick answer.
 
"Patience," she said. "Patience and just trying to get this all together as fast as we can. The season at times seems really long. But when you have as many newcomers and you're trying to compete and win a championship, that's always the goal. It's never not going to be the goal.
 
"To bring this whole together, we're going to have to be able to peak," Yaeger added. "We have to be playing our best volleyball at the end of October and the beginning of November. And hopefully, by then, we can put this all together. We have great pieces."
 
Binghamton's first game of the season on Friday against Fordham starts at 6 p.m.