Nov. 21, 2011

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Freshman Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.) and sophomore Louis Bell (Washington, D.C.) have been named the Peninsula Regional Medical Center University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletes of the Week for the week of Nov. 21. This is the fourth time this season that Iosia has been distinguished with the award, while Bell receives it for the first time.

Bell spearheaded the charge for the UMES men's basketball team this past week as he tallied 51 points, five rebounds and three assists in three games. The Washington, D.C., native led the team in points in all three contests, courtesy of a 13-20 effort from three-point range. The sophomore tallied 21 points and two rebounds in UMES' season-opener against American University before dropping 14 points, two rebounds and two assists against Tulane University. He finished the week off with a 16-point effort against Rice University. His performance guided the Hawks to a 1-2 record.

Iosia used 54 kills, 27 digs and nine service aces to propel the volleyball team to its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title in program history. The Long Beach, Calif., native opened the MEAC tournament with a 16-kill, seven dig effort in UMES' 3-1 victory over North Carolina Central University before posting 13 kills and nine digs in a 3-1 win over Hampton University. Iosia saved her most important performance of the year for the MEAC championship as she posted 25 kills, eleven digs and three service aces to record her 11th double-double of the year and lead UMES to its 19th straight victory.

The men's basketball team travels to Kansas State University for its next contest on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m., before the Hawks begin competition in the Jim Thorpe Classic in Laramie, Wyo., on Nov. 25. The volleyball team must wait until Nov. 27 to find out their opponent in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

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