Dec. 13, 2010
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - University of Maryland Eastern Shore senior Samantha Chukwura (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior Zoe Bowens (Long Beach, Calif.) and freshman Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah) have been named to the COBRA Magazine All-East Region Team, magazine creator Geezus Zaire made the announcement Dec. 2.
A total of 21 players were named to COBRA's All-East Region Team. The publication details the talents of African-American volleyball players on all levels of the game. The national teams were made up of collegiate student-athletes from throughout the country. Chukwura, a 5-foot-9 middle blocker, led the Hawks to their fourth consecutive 20-win season.
She was named to the All-MEAC Second Team, MEAC Player of the Week on Sept. 27 and earned three all-tournament team nods. She is currently ranked 17th in the nation with a .389 hitting percentage.
Bowens, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, was a two-time MEAC Player of the Week, two-time all-tournament team selection and won the Peaky's North/South UMES Invitational on Oct. 2. Bowens currently leads the NCAA in aces per game at 0.67 and finished the season fourth in the MEAC in points per game at 3.77.
Vaitai, a 6-foot outside hitter, was named MEAC Rookie of the Year and to the All-MEAC First Team selection. She was a four-time MEAC Rookie of the Week and two-time all-tournament team selection.
Vaitai finished the season ranked first in the MEAC in points per game at 4.04, second in kills per game at 3.45 and third in aces per game at 0.37.
UMES was the only school to place three players of the COBRA All-East Region Team.
The complete All-East Region team is listed below:
COBRA Magazine East Region Player of the Year:
Deja McClendon, Penn State
All-East Region Team:
Penn State, Deja McClendon, OH, Fr.
Penn State, Arielle Wilson MH, Sr.
Maryland Eastern Shore, Samantha Chukwura, MB, Sr.
Maryland Eastern Shore, Maline Vaitai, OH, Fr.
Maryland Eastern Shore, Zoe Bowens, OH, Jr.
Maryland, Lisa Scott, MB, Jr.
Virginia, Simone Asque, OH, Jr.
Pasco Hernando, Desiree Ates, OH, So.
Liberty, Karyl Bacon, OH, Sr.
American, Angelina Waterman, OH, Sr.
American, Bianca Richardson, MB, So.
Georgetown, Vanessa Dorismond, MB, Sr.
Pittsburgh, Imani Harper, MH, Sr.
Temple, Arielle Pierre, DS/L, Sr.
Howard, Tosin Elebute, RS, Jr.
Honorable Mention:
UMBC, Iman Kennedy, MB, Jr.
Liberty, Loren Thomas, MB, So.
Virginia Commonwealth, Jasmine Waters, MB, So.
Pittsburgh, Kiesha Leggs, MH, Jr.
George Washington, Leah Hill, OH, Sr.
William & Mary, Celine Alasomuka, DS, Fr.
