VESTAL, N.Y. – Both
Maya Coblentz-Brown and
Viktoria Dimitrova of the Binghamton volleyball program have been named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced Wednesday. Additionally, the Bearcats were picked to finish third in the conference's preseason poll.
Dimitrova, who was also named to the conference's preseason all-conference team in 2025, took another step forward during her sophomore season in the Southern Tier. Despite missing the first seven matches of the year due to an injury, the Sofia, Bulgaria native still set career highs in kills (251), kills per set (3.44), digs (96), digs per set (1.32), points (284.0) and points per set (3.89). Her season included a stretch where she recorded at least 21 kills in three consecutive matches from Oct. 31-Nov. 7. Dimitrova would go on to receive First Team All-Conference honors from the America East at the end of the season.
Coblentz-Brown, meanwhile, had an impactful freshman season for the Bearcats in 2025. The Irvine, Calif., native appeared in all 26 matches for Binghamton, posting 255 kills, 46 blocks and 34 digs. She finished the year ranking eighth in the America East in hitting percentage (.273) and ninth in kills per set (2.66). She was named Rookie of the Week by the America East four times throughout the regular season, before being selected for the league's all-rookie team at the end of the year.
Both right side hitters look to help Binghamton qualify for the America East Volleyball Championship for the fifth year in a row in 2026, something the program has not accomplished since it reached the conference tournament seven years in a row from 2004-10. Binghamton also aims to win its third America East regular season championship in the last five seasons (2022, 24) and its first America East tournament championship since 2012.
UMBC was picked to finish first in the preseason poll with 25 points and five first place votes. Bryant, meanwhile, was picked to finish second with 20 points and one first place vote. Binghamton received 16 votes to place third. Rounding out the remainder of the preseason poll are UAlbany with 12 points, New Hampshire with 11 and NJIT and six.
Binghamton begins the 2026 season by competing in the Rocket Invitational at the University of Toledo from Aug. 28-29. The Bearcats open the year with two matches on Aug. 28, first against Bradley at 10 a.m., followed by Oakland at 2:30 p.m.
Hinman, Howard & Katell, LLP is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Volleyball.
