Head Coach Allie Yaeger enters her fourth year at the helm of the Binghamton volleyball program in 2025.
In 2024, Yaeger guided the Bearcats to their second America East regular-season title in three years after putting together a 19-10, 8-2 record. Despite falling in the championship semifinal, Binghamton made an appearance in the NIVC First Round at Bowling Green. The Bearcats won both the Fairfield and Rutgers Invitationals by defeating two major programs in Boston College and Rutgers. Binghamton reverse swept Boston College, 3-2, Sept 9, to earn the Bearcats first win over a Power Four team in 13 years.
Under Yaeger's direction, Tsvetelina Ilieva earned her third consecutive AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and America East Player of the Year awards. She added an AVCA-All Region First Team nod after being selected as an Honorable Mention the previous two seasons. Ilieva also set two new Binghamton Volleyball single-season records for total kills and kills per set. Off the court, Ilieva recorded her first CSC Academic All-America Third Team honor while being named an America East Volleyball and SUNY Fall Scholar-Athlete.Lottie Scully picked up her first career America East Setter of the Year honor while Ilieva, Scully and Misa Dlouha were named to the All-Conference First Team. Ella Schabort was selected to the Second Team and Viktoria Dimitrova rounded out the awards with an All-Rookie nod.
Yaeger brought Binghamton to its second consecutive America East Championship appearance in 2023. The third seeded Bearcats completed a 3-2 reverse sweep over New Hampshire to advance to the championship final for the first time since 2017. Binghamton finished the regular season atop the America East standings in hitting percentage (.240) and blocks (3.36 avg/s).
Under Yaeger’s leadership, Ilieva earned her second career All-America, All-Region and America East Player of the Year honors along with First Team All-Conference and All-Academic nods. Ilieva set a program record for kills per set (4.22) and surpassed 1,000 career kills against NJIT, Oct. 29. Freshman standout Misa Dlouha took home the conference’s Rookie of the Year accolade, ranking among the top 10 in the America East in hitting percentage, blocks and service aces. Sophomore setter Lottie Scully and freshman outside hitter Ella Schabort notched America East Second Team All-Conference distinctions while Dlouha and Schabort were named to the All-Rookie Team.
Yaeger was hired in January 2022 and produced a dramatic rise for the program in her first season, winning more matches than the previous four years combined. Yaeger and assistant coach CJ Werneke were named 2022 America East Coaching Staff of the Year. The team's regular-season win percentage (.708) was the highest in the program's 21-year Division I history. Binghamton went 8-2 to secure the program's first-ever regular season title. After key injuries to a pair of all-conference players cost the team a chance at a postseason title and NCAA berth, the Bearcats earned their first national postseason appearance in 10 years and competed in the 32-team NIVC tournament.
Tsvetelina Ilieva, a Yaeger recruit who transferred from Seton Hall, was the unanimous choice for America East Player of the Year and then added to her haul by becoming the program's first-ever AVCA All-American. Ilieva was the lone America East player selected and becomes the school's first volleyball All-American at any level in the 51 years of the sport.Freshman hitter Giulia Bonifacio was selected as East Coast Freshman of the Year and also was second team all-conference and a member of the All-Rookie Team. Both players are the first Bearcats in program history to earn regional distinction. In addition, BU received five all-conference selections - most in program history. Joining Ilieva on the all-conference first team was junior outside hitter Stefana Stan.
Yaeger’s first stop in her professional career was at Binghamton, where she served as an assistant coach in 2005 and 2006, helping the Bearcats win an America East title and play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.
From Binghamton, Yaeger went to South Orange, N.J., where she was the lead assistant at Seton Hall for five years before taking over as head coach in 2012. Under her direction, Seton Hall posted the three highest BIG EAST win totals in program history in 2014, 2016 and 2017. She was named BIG EAST and AVCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2014 after her team earned an at-large NCAA berth.
“I'm so excited that my journey as a coach has brought me back to Binghamton,” Yaeger said. “I loved my time here in 2005-2006 and made such great friends here during my short stay. This area has always held a special place in my heart. The University has provided me the keys for a successful program and I want nothing more than to compete for championships and ensure that the student-athletes have a great experience. I want to thank the athletics department and Dennis for trusting me with the opportunity to take over this program."
Yaeger amassed 144 wins during her tenure at Seton Hall. She produced 17 all-conference and four all-region players, including one All-American selection. Her teams achieved lofty status in the classroom as well, with 73 BIG EAST All-Academic selections and nine AVCA Team Academic Award honors during her tenure.
A native of Waukesha, Wisc., Yaeger received her bachelor’s degree in health from Wright State in 2005. She was an elite libero and outside hitter for the Raiders and graduated No. 3 all-time in career digs with 1,318. In 2003, Yaeger ranked among the nation’s leaders in digs and aces and was an AVCA All-American and Horizon League DefensivePlayer of the Year. She also was a Dean’s List student and received the school’s Academic Excellence Award in 2004.
She has been active in AVCA membership, serving as a Top 25 voting member and a committee representative. Yaeger has directed youth camps at every stop in her career.
