BOSTON – Four-time defending champion UMBC claimed the top spot in the #AEVB Preseason Poll, while the league also released its inaugural #AEVB Preseason All-Conference Team on Monday afternoon.
The Retrievers earned 24 points and four first place votes in their quest for a fifth straight league crown. 2023 #AEVB runner-up Binghamton was second with 20 points and one first place vote, while New Hampshire was selected third with 18 points and the final first place vote. Bryant was fourth (14), followed by UAlbany (9) and NJIT (5).
UMBC had a pair named Preseason All-Conference in Mia Bilusic and Aysia Miller, and the Retrievers also bring back Tournament MOP Mila Ilieva, 2023 #AEVB Libero of the Year Hannah Howard and setter Serin Maden. Binghamton had a pair earn Preseason All-Conference honors as well, Misa Dlouha and Two-Time Player of the Year Tsvetelina Ilieva.
Preseason Poll
| Pl. |
School |
Pts. (1st) |
| 1. |
UMBC |
24 (4) |
| 2. |
Binghamton |
20 (1) |
| 3. |
New Hampshire |
18 (1) |
| 4. |
Bryant |
14 |
| 5. |
UAlbany |
9 |
| 6. |
NJIT |
5 |
Preseason All-Conference
OH Mia Bilusic (UMBC)
MB Misa Dlouha (Binghamton)
OH Tsvetelina Ilieva (Binghamton)
OH Aubrey Lapour (Bryant)
OH/L/S Aysia Miller (UMBC)
OH Hannah Serbousek (New Hampshire)
S Zosia Szczotkiewicz (UAlbany)
Need to Know:
- UMBC won its fourth consecutive #AEVB Title in 2023, taking down Binghamton 3-0 in the championship. Over the past four seasons the Retrievers are 36-8 in regular season action with three regular season championships.
- Mia Bilusic is a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection, while Aysia Miller is a three-time Second-Team honoree. Mila Ilieva returns as a two-time second-team selection and two-time Tournament MOP.
- Binghamton reached the 2023 Championship match finishing the regular season tied for third at 6-4. The team won the 2022 #AEVB Regular Season Title.
- Two-time reigning Player of the Year and honorable mention All-America Tsvetelina Ilieva returns for the Bearcats after leading the league with 4.29 kills per set. 2023 #AEVB Rookie of the Year Misa Dlouha was a Preseason All-Conference selection after leading the league with 1.35 blocks per set.
- New Hampshire was picked third with 18 total points after tying for third in the standings a season ago. The Wildcats have finished the regular season tied for third or better each of the past 13 years.
- Bryant was picked fourth with 14 points. The Bulldogs have been a top-four seed each of their two seasons in #AEVB. They return a pair of first-team all-conference honorees in Aubrey Lapour and Arianna Ugolini.
- Zosia Szczotkiewicz earned Preseason All-Conference honors for UAlbany after claiming 2023 #AEVB Setter of the Year recognition.
The 2024 season begins on Friday, August 30 with all six teams in action, playing a combined 11 contests. UMBC battles Purdue, which finished 2023 ranked 13th on Saturday in the biggest match of the weekend.
Fans will once again be able to watch nearly every #AEVB contest this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN 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.
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