VESTAL, N.Y. – Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Alix Klineman headlined the Binghamton Division of Athletics' 21st Annual Celebrating Women's Athletic Luncheon (CWAL) - presented by M&T Bank - on Monday afternoon at the Events Center. The event, which is geared towards raising money for the Binghamton Bearcats Athletic Association (BBAA) Scholarship Fund, drew over 900 attendees.
Klineman's illustrious volleyball career has taken her to the pinnacle at every level of competition. She was the 2006 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year and as a senior at Stanford, was the 2010 Volleyball Magazine Player of the Year. In 2011, Klineman won a bronze medal with team USA at the 2011 Pan American.
In 2017, Klineman made the switch to beach volleyball. She was part of the 2018 Association of Volleyball Professionals Team of the Year (along with April Ross) and was individually honored with the 2018 and 2019 Best Blocker Awards. The crowning moment for Klineman and Ross was capturing the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
For all of her success, however, Klineman has had her share of athletic setbacks, which she shared with the attendees on Monday. She did not make the U.S. Olympic volleyball team in 2008, 2012 and 2016. The third time around, she was wondering what was next in her life.
"I had been chasing my Olympic dream for 10 years and I was thinking what the point was if I wasn't going to be included on the Olympic team," she said. "I had been away from my family and friends for a long time and I did not know what was next."
It was at that point that Klineman transitioned to beach volleyball. That process was an adjustment at first but after three years of working to improve, she made her first Olympic team and won the championship. That gold medal continues to represent much more to her than winning a title.
"The gold medal to me represents all of the struggles I went through to get to that point," she said. "It represents years of never giving up and following my passion."
At the end of her speech, Klineman challenged the attendees with some key principles that she has followed over the years.
"As you all move forward in your own personal journey, remember that just because you have failed, it doesn't mean you won't have success," she said. "Whatever you do, make sure you understand your purpose and what drives you. Cultivate a positive work environment, work hard and realize there is always room for improvement."
This year's student speaker was senior Carla Curth of the Bearcats' women's lacrosse team. She dedicated her speech to her mother, who passed away 11 years ago from cancer and was a role model to her in many ways. Her father Skip is a 1990 alum of Binghamton University - where he played men's soccer - and remains Carla's biggest supporter.
It was Skip who encouraged Carla to apply to Binghamton University and four years later, she has no regrets.
"This has been such an amazing experience," she said. "I couldn't imagine my life without everyone here. Each and every one of you inspired me to work hard and enjoy life every day."
Curth concluded her speech with one of mother's favorite quotes that she continues to live by every day.
"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So sail away from the safe harbor and catch the wind in the sails. Explore, dream and discover."
Also speaking at the event were Binghamton Director of Athletics Gene Marshall as well as University President Anne D'Alleva.
"This event has a return on investment that is through the roof," Marshall said. " When you look at the success of the following athletic programs -cross country, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, and indoor track - these funds support the recruiting efforts of our coaches and play a key role in the overall success of these athletic programs. So I want to thank each of you for what you do for our women's athletics program."
"This my first CWAL event and I have heard so much about it," D'Alleva said. "But walking into this room - this is amazing. I want to thank everyone who organized this event because it is an incredible endeavor."
Klineman is the latest of an impressive group of guest speakers who have come to Binghamton for the CWAL event. She is preceded by Emily Mackay (2025), Angel McCoughtry (2024), Dottie Pepper (2023), Nancy Hogshead-Makar (2022), Breanna Stewart (2021), Suzyn Waldman (2020), Joan Benoit-Samuelson (2019), Shannon Boxx (2018), Swin Cash (2017), Amy Van Dyken (2016), Rebecca Lobo (2015), Jennie Finch (2014), Shannon Miller (2013), Amanda Beard (2012), Julie Foudy (2011), Kara Lawson (2010) and Jessica Mendoza (2009).
Since 2006, the Celebrating Women's Athletics event has raised more than $600,000 to support the BBAA Scholarship Fund. The scholarships were established in 2007, and have grown each year. In 2025-26, 10 BBAA Scholarships were awarded to female student-athletes. This event began in 2006, with just 75 attendees, and is today one of the Athletics Department's primary fundraisers.
