Nov. 21, 2008
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - With their season ending in a nail biting, five set loss to Florida A&M University (FAMU) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship match, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's volleyball team walked away with somewhat of a consolation prize, having two players named to the all-tournament team: MEAC Player of the Year Christina EstebanÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ÃÆ'ââ'¬Â '© (El Paso, Texas) and MEAC Freshman of the Year Christine Edwards (Lakewood, Calif.).
"[Christina] and Christine really made some significant contributions all around for us," said Head Coach Don Metil. "I'm happy they can be recognized for their play."
EstebanÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ÃÆ'ââ'¬Â '© averaged 41.66 assists per match during the tournament. She finished with 39 digs, 18 kills and five aces. Ranked fifth nationally in aces per set, EstebanÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ÃÆ'ââ'¬Â '© led the MEAC in aces (70), assists (1,115) and double-doubles (12) and finished eighth for digs. A senior, the five-time MEAC Player of the Week will be missed on the court but returns next season as a graduate assistant coach.
Edwards finished the tournament with 42 kills, leading the Lady Hawks in kills this season with 397. Nationally ranked in aces per set and kills per set, she is top 10 in the MEAC for points, kills per set, aces per set and hitting percentage. The four-time MEAC Rookie of the Week is second on the team in aces and fourth in digs.
The Lady Hawks finished runner-up in the MEAC with an undefeated conference record for the second straight year. They will be losing two starters to graduation.
Metil said "we're going to need to recruit a top notch quality setter that can come in and run the show immediately. But other than that, we have quality athletes coming back here that will continue to shine for us over the course of the next few years."
Other players named to the 2008 All-Tournament Team were FAMU's Samara Ferraz (also named Most Outstanding Performer) and Jovana Blazeski. Delaware State's Cassandra Joyner and Chelle Ticeson from Bethune-Cookman round out the honors.
