Nov. 11, 2008

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - For the second straight year, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's volleyball team has taken two of the top Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) yearly honors. Senior setter Christina Estebané (El Paso, Texas) and freshman outside hitter Christine Edwards (Lakewood, Calif.) were named the MEAC Player and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Junior Whitney Johnson (Prince Frederick, Md.), the 2007 MEAC Player of the Year, was named First Team All-Conference.

"I always have high goals, no matter what the competition is," said Estebané, "but I didn't expect this."

Estebané, a five-time MEAC Player of the Week, is currently ranked fourth nationally in aces per set. She leads the conference in assists, aces per set and double-doubles and has recorded 30-plus assists 16 times. Estebané has also been named to four all-tournament teams this season.

"Christina's skill set allows us to run an advanced offense," said head coach Don Metil. "Her defense and serving makes her a main component in our success over the last two years, allowing us to be 20-0 in conference play. I'm glad to see a setter with such a great all-around game earn the highest honor the conference awards."

Edwards leads the team in kills with 355. The four-time MEAC Rookie of the Week is ranked in the top 10 of the conference for points, kills per set, aces per set and hitting percentage.

"Throughout the entire season, starting with our very first discussion while she was a recruit, I expressed to Christine that she had the skill set to be the best incoming freshman in the MEAC," Metil said. "Her all-around play has been an asset to the program and she is definitely a player who can take our program to the next level."

Named the MVP of the Winston-Salem State University tournament, Edwards finished the regular season ranked nationally in aces per set (84th) and kills per set. The all-conference announcement was made on her 18th birthday.

"This is a great birthday present," she said. "I'm excited, and it makes me want to play harder so I can show people I deserve this honor."

Johnson rounds out the Lady Hawks all-conference nods. She finished the regular season second on the team in kills and second in the MEAC in hitting percentage and kills per set.

"I was ecstatic about the news," said Johnson. "I feel good and ready to do whatever it takes to help the team win."

This is Johnson's second straight first team award. The junior transfer is nationally ranked in hitting percentage and kills per set. With another year to go, Johnson has been stepping up her game.

"It was good to see that Whitney earned first team accolades for her consistent performance on the outside," said Metil. "Her high hitting efficiencies throughout the season have been paramount in our success."

The Lady Hawks enter into the MEAC Championships in Hampton, Va. as the No. 1 seed in the north. They face Norfolk State University in the first round on Nov. 14 at noon. UMES has topped Norfolk State this year, 3-0 in its first non-tournament match of the season.

"The difference between this year and last year is that we were 10-0 in conference and were still unsure of ourselves as a team," said Metil. "This year, it was a new level of confidence in this team going 30-0 in sets played against all of our conference opponents. We're still preparing like we could drop a set at any given time, but the confidence level of individuals and in the team as a whole is much different than last year. You can see it."

With a win over NSU, the Lady Hawks will move one step closer to making UMES history by being the first volleyball team to bring home a conference title. A goal they missed with a loss to southern division top seed, and reigning MEAC champion, Florida A&M last season in the title match.