Player of the Week

Each week of the spring and fall seasons, one player who was originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

October 7, 2024: Mila Ilieva

Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County.

America East Conference.

NCAA Division I.

Senior. 6'0" Middle Blocker.

Reported by AVSR Global in 2019.

Home: Vidin, Bulgaria.

See Ilieva’s bio at the UMBC website.

Last Week:

• UMBC jumped atop the America East Conference as Ilieva posted seven blocks in a 3-0 sweep of Binghamton, the Retrievers’ leading rival.
• Ilieva is a four-year starter and UMBC’s top blocker. The past two years she was Most Outstanding Player of the America East championship.
• UMBC is 3-0 in the AE and 4-10 overall after a rugged early schedule. The Retrievers beat Binghamton on Friday, then Albany on Sunday.
• UMBC is aiming this season for its fifth consecutive bid to the NCAA championship tournament and its first opening-round victory.
• In the AE last year Ilieva hit at .341 efficiency and averaged 1.51 blocks per set. UMBC fell to Southern California in the NCAA tourney.
• Ilieva’s hometown of Vidin sits along the Danube River. She competed for the Bdin-Vida club and Bulgaria’s junior national team.
• Ilieva trained in track and field at early ages before she specialized in volleyball. She excelled as a sprinter and high jumper.

Excerpt from 2019 AVSR Global report:

“Swift and springy. She’s a dynamic, fast-twitch athlete. … Unusually versatile. … Plays six rotations as a MB/OH and primary passer. … Swing is fast and clean, and she’s outstanding at adjusting to sets.”