Aug. 13, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has been quietly building one of the most successful women's volleyball programs in the region, compiling a 49-13 record over the past two seasons, winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Northern Division both seasons and earning back-to-back MEAC Player of the Year selections. They also boast the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year and the 2007 Coach of the Year in head coach Don Metil. It should be no surprise then that the Hawks were picked to win the conference's northern division again in 2009, the league announced earlier this week.
UMES earned 257 points and garnered 20 out of a possible 22 first-place votes to be named the league's top north team entering the 2009 campaign. They haven't lost a conference match in two seasons. UMES earned the most points of any league school as Florida A&M was picked to win the southern division with 253 points and 19 first-place votes.
Howard and Delaware State were picked to finish second and third respectively in the northern division with each receiving a first-place vote from the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Morgan State, Hampton and Coppin State round out the top six in the northern division.
Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State and Norfolk State each received a first-place vote in the southern division while being ranked second, third an fourth, respectively. North Carolina A&T was picked fifth in its division.
UMES surprising only had one player named to the preseason team. That one should come as no surprise to the Hawk faithful, however. Whitney Johnson, the 2007 MEAC Player of the Year and a two-time first team all-conference selection is expected to finish there again this year. The reigning 2008 Rookie of the Year Christine Edwards and perennial all-conference player Caylin Woodward were not selected.
Florida A&M's Jovana Blazeski was picked as the preseason player of the year and was joined by teammate Susan Egoavil on the preseason squad. Delaware State's Cassandra Joyner was the team's only other northern division selection while Bethune-Cookman's Chelle Ticeson and South Carolina State's Bria Brimmer rounded out the squad.
UMES starts its quest for a third straight northern division title when the Lady Hawks play North Carolina A&T at the Tribe Invitational in Williamsburg, Va. Aug. 28.
