Nov. 14, 2011

NORFOLK, Va. -- After completing a perfect conference season, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore swept the conference weekly awards with Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah) being named MEAC Player of the Week and Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.) receiving MEAC Rookie of the Week for the period ending November 13th.

Iosia earned her 10th weekly honor, earning a conference award 10 out of the 12 weeks. This is her seventh MEAC Rookie of the Week award, also owning three MEAC Player of the Week honors. Vaitai earns her first MEAC honor this season, adding to her four rookie awards last season.

The two outside hitters led UMES to a pair of home victories this weekend against Norfolk State and Hampton, securing a perfect 12-0 MEAC regular season in the Northern Division and a fifth straight 20+ win season for the Hawks.

Vaitai earned double digit kills each match, totaling 27 plus earning 11 digs. She hit .476 against Norfolk State with 12 kills with just two errors on 21 attacks, adding three aces, six digs and a block. Against Hampton, the sophomore led the team with 15 kills, also earning three blocks and five digs.

Iosia started the weekend hitting .514 against Norfolk State, earning 21 kills with just three errors on 35 attacks, adding five digs and three blocks. She followed up with her 11th double-double of the year against Hampton, amassing 12 kills and 10 digs. The freshman finished the weekend with 33 kills and 15 digs.

Vaitai, Iosia and the Hawks will head to Baltimore this week for the MEAC Tournament, representing the MEAC North as the 1-seed. The first match is set for Friday at 1:00 p.m. against North Carolina Central.