BOSTON – A pair of #AEVB teams remain unbeaten in league play two weeks into the conference slate. UMBC and UNH both won matches last week to stay unscathed. The Retrievers sit atop the standings at 3-0 while the Wildcats are 2-0, followed by Binghamton at 2-1 and Bryant at 1-1.
Need to Know
- UMBC was the lone #AEVB team to sweep two matches last week. The Retrievers beat Binghamton, 3-0, on Friday before posting a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over UAlbany on Sunday.
- The Retrievers have won three straight and four of their last five matches since starting 0-10.
- UNH beat NJIT, 3-0, on Sunday and has won six matches in a row, its longest stretch since 2022. The Wildcats have not dropped a set in their last three matches.
- Binghamton rebounded from its first conference defeat to beat Bryant, 3-1, on Sunday.
- The Bearcats' Tsvetelina Ilieva ranks eighth nationally averaging 4.8 kills/set.
- Four more conference matches take place this weekend.
- 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. 8
Player of the Week
Mia Bilusic, UMBC – Sr., Outside Hitter, Zagreb, Croatia
- Averaged 4.6 kills and 2.0 digs in two conference matches, both UMBC wins.
- Had 19 kills, which is tied for the most by an #AEVB player in a three-set match this season, and six digs in a win over Binghamton on Friday.
- Followed that performance with 18 kills and 10 digs in a comeback 3-2 win vs. UAlbany.
- This is Bilusic’s first #AEVB Player of the Week honor of the season and eighth of her career.
Setter of the Week
Lottie Scully, Binghamton – Jr., Setter, Hurdle Mills, N.C.
- Contributed a league-high 8.0 assists per set in two matches last week.
- Had 41 assists in a four-set win over Bryant on Sunday, the second-most in a league match this season
- This is Scully’s second-straight #AEVB Setter of the Week honor this season and 10th of her career.
Defensive Specialist of the Week
Kelly Kaufmann, New Hampshire – Gr., Middle Blocker, New Hampshire
- Had eight blocks (2.7/set) in UNH’s 3-0 sweep of NJIT.
- The blocks are tied for the most by and #AEVB player in a three-set match this season.
- This is Kaufmann’s first career #AEVB Defensive Specialist of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Hannah Dobbs, UMBC – Fr., Outside Hitter, Toronto, Ohio
- Averaged 4.4 kills/set in two matches, including career and match-high 22 in five-set win over UAlbany.
- This is Dobbs’ first #AEVB Rookie of the Week honor of the season.
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
Links
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 -