BOSTON – Bryant took down a pair of previously unbeaten conference opponents, UMBC and New Hampshire, to move into a tie for first place over the weekend. 
 
Need to Know 

• Three teams are tied atop the conference standings at 3-1 four matches into the 2024 league slate. Binghamton, Bryant and UMBC are all tied at 3-1. 

• It will be the third-straight season no team goes through conference play unbeaten. 

• Bryant and UAlbany were the lone teams to go unbeaten last week with the Bulldogs taking five-set matches from Binghamton and UMBC while the Great Danes took down NJIT, 3-0 behind a 34-assist, 12-dig performance from Maria Olga Siapani. 

• UMBC has won four of its last six matches since starting 0-10. 

• The Bearcats' Tsvetelina Ilieva ranks seventh nationally averaging 4.7 kills/set. 

• Three conference matches take place this weekend, beginning with Bryant traveling to UAlbany Friday afternoon. On Sunday, New Hampshire travels to UMBC in a battle to remain in first, while Binghamton seeks to move over .500 when it hosts NJIT. 

• UMBC, UAlbany and Binghamton all play non-conference matches on Wednesday. 

• The top four teams in the conference standings at the end of the season will qualify for the 2024 America East Volleyball Championship. Visit Championship Central for more information. 

• The #AEVB preseason poll and All-Conference teams were announced on August 12 - link. 

  
Weekly Award Winners – Oct. 15 
Player of the Week 
Tsvetelina Ilieva, Binghamton – Gr., Outside Hitter, Sofia, Bulgaria 

• Averaged a league-best 5.8 kills/set and 1.9 digs/set over two matches while hitting .277. 

• Had 25 kills, nine digs and six aces against UNH on Sunday. The 25 kills tied for the most by any player nationally in a three-set match this season.  

• Opened the week with 21 kills and three blocks in a five-set loss at Temple. 

• This is Ilieva’s fourth #AEVB Player of the Week honor of the season and ninth of her career. 

  
Setter & Rookie of the Week 
Maria Olga Siapani, UAlbany – Fr., Setter, Limassol, Cyprus 

• Averaged a league-best 11.3 assists per set and 4.0 digs per set in a 1-0 week. 

• Finished with 34 assists, 12 digs and three blocks in a 3-0 sweep of NJIT. 

• This is Siapani’s fourth time earning #AEVB Setter and Rookie of the Week honors. 

  
Defensive Specialist of the Week 
Brookelyn Talmadge, Bryant – So., Middle, Clifton, N.J. 

• Averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.80 kills per set in a pair of crucial conference wins. 

• Posted 11 total blocks and six kills in a 3-2 victory over UMBC on Sunday. 

• Finished with four total blocks and 12 kills while hitting .588 in a victory over UNH on Friday. 

• This is Talmadge’s first career #AEVB Defensive Specialist of the Week honor. 

  
2024 #AEVB Weekly Award Winners 
Sept. 4 – Player of the Week: Meredith Hohnbaum, New Hampshire; Setter & Rookie of the Week: Maria Olga Siapani, UAlbany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Sthefany Carvalho, UAlbany 
Sept. 10 – Player of the Week: Aubrey LaPour, Bryant; Setter & Rookie of the Week: Maria Olga Siapani, UAlbany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Misa Dlouha, Binghamton 
Sept. 17 – Player of the Week: Tsvetelina Ilieva, Binghamton; Setter of the Week: Carolina Camacho, Bryant; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Doga Emil, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Emma Torres, NJIT 
Sept. 24 – Player of the Week: Tsvetelina Ilieva, Binghamton; Setter & Rookie of the Week: Maria Olga Siapani, UAlbany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Aysia Miller, UMBC 
Oct. 1 – Player of the Week: Tsvetelina Ilieva, Binghamton; Setter of the Week: Lottie Scully, Binghamton; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Carrina Barron, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Viktoria Dimitrova, Binghamton 
Oct. 8 – Player of the Week: Mia Bilusic, UMBC; Setter of the Week: Lottie Scully, Binghamton; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Kelly Kaufmann, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Hannah Dobbs, UMBC 

Oct. 15 - Player of the Week: Tsvetelina Ilieva, Binghamton; Setter & Rookie of the Week: Maria Olga Siapani, UAlbany; Defensive Specialist of the Week: Brookelyn Talmadge, Bryant 
 
Links 

• Full #AEVB Schedule/Results 

• #AEVB Standings 

• #AEVB Statistics 

 
Info 
Fans will once again be able to watch nearly every #AEVB contest this season with the majority of games airing on ESPN+ and the ESPN app while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores. 
  
Follow the @AmericaEast channels on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on America East volleyball news all season long and use #AEVB to join the conversation. 
  
ABOUT AMERICA EAST 
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast. 
  

- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -