Aug. 23, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks volleyball team is ready for the 2011 season. Coming off a 20-12 year and fourth straight MEAC Northern Division Title, the Hawks look to continue their tradition of success. Head coach Don Metil enters his fifth year with UMES having led the Hawks to at least 20 wins in each year of his tenure.
"UMES will definitely have a different look on the court this upcoming season," states Metil, "We only have five returning players from a successful 2010 campaign. While they are a strong core of starters, we will definitely be young and will need our recruiting class to make an immediate impact. "I'm eager to see the growth in this young squad. This team has the potential to achieve some of the best results since my time here at UMES."
The Hawks earned the NCAA record for aces per set, which the team achieved three times during Metil's four years at the helm. Zoe Bowens also finished as the nation's best statistical server for aces per set. Maline Vaitai was named MEAC Rookie of the Year and earned 1st-Team All-MEAC honors plus was named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team. In addition, Samantha Chukwura, Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa and Stephanie Sierra were named to the 2nd-Team All-MEAC.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Coach Metil will combine a strong core of returners and newcomers to make up the hitting lines, which led the conference in hitting percentage and kills last season.
Two all-conference players return to the outside, including sophomore Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah). Vaitai, reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year and 2011 MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, led the conference in kills and points per set, finishing with 407 kills, averaging 3.45 a set, and finished second on the team with 44 service aces and 42 total blocks. In MEAC matches she totaled 143 kills, averaging 4.35 a set to lead the team.
"I fully expect Vaitai to continue her high level of play in 2011. Maline has a complete all-around game and I am definitely looking to Maline for leadership and poise even though she will only be a sophomore this year."
Also a sophomore from Salt Lake City, Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa (Salt Lake City, Utah), 2nd-Team All-MEAC, was the team's leading blocker last season with 77 plus scored 292 kills on the season. As a freshman she also added 38 service aces and 52 digs.
"Kave hits on of the heaviest balls in our program, and she will play a wide variety of positions this season. She has the potential to be a six-rotational player for us this season, and possesses an incredible jump attack serve that will place pressure on our opponents quickly."
The NCAA's leader in aces per set returns to the floor as well. 5-10 Senior Zoe Bowens (Long Beach, Calif.), named to the 2011 MEAC All-Preseason Team, had 79 aces last season, averaging 0.67 a set, including 35 against the MEAC to average over one per set. She also was the team's second leading scorer with 350 kills plus added 184 digs.
"Zoe is coming off her most successful campaign here at UMES. She is only the second Hawk to accomplish becoming the nation's #1 server statistically for aces/set. Zoe provides us leadership and stability; characteristics that will be invaluable this season."
A transfer from CCBC-Essex, Raquel Rogers (Baltimore, Md.) joins UMES for her first season on the team after being in Princess Anne last year. During the 2009 season, Rogers notched 186 kills and 171 digs for the Knights.
"Raquel has worked hard to become a part of the Hawk program, and we look for her to contribute on the right and left sides."
UMES will add three freshmen to the outside to bolster their strength. Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.), who attended the same high school as Bowens at Long Beach Poly, brings strong high school and international experience to the team. In high school, Iosia averaged 12 kills and as many digs a match for one of the top volleyball teams in the nation.
"She jumps well, hits a very heavy ball, plays all the way around, and is a true leader. Her high volleyball IQ and energy will be infectious. Sa has the skill set and drive to be one of the best athletes to come through our program here at UMES."
Victoria Williams (Los Angeles, Calif.), also a freshman from the Golden State, played for TCA and spent last season in Princess Anne. Coach Metil feels she will be a strong presence on the right side.
"I look for Tori to become a weapon for us on the right side, she is long, left-handed, powerful, jumps well over 10 feet and is an incredible blocker. She could potentially develop into a key six-rotational player."
The freshmen hitters are rounded out by Emily Shannon (Cross Junction, Va.). She was named to the 2010 Winchester Star All-Area Volleyball Team with 344 kills as a senior for James Wood High School, becoming the only player in school history with over 1,000 kills in her career.
"Emily jumps well, hits a heavy ball, is a primary S/R passer, and a six-rotational player. Emily is level-headed on the court and will give us some consistency on the outside."
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
With the graduation of all-conference middle blocker Samantha Chukwura, the Hawks bring in Ndidi Ibe (North Richland, Texas), from the United States Naval Academy. Ibe led the Mids in blocks last season with 96 in 103 games, good for third in the Patriot League, plus added 174 kills. When Navy played UMES last season, Ibe had 14 kills and eight blocks against the Hawks.
"When we played Navy in 2010, Ndidi hurt us offensively, so when the opportunity became available that she could join us, I definitely wanted her to be playing for us, and not against us."
SETTERS
At setter, the Hawks will rely primarily on players new to the UMES program with the loss of all-conference player Stephanie Sierra.
Junior Corey Haynes (Falls Church, Va.) comes to Princess Anne after starting for St. Peter's College, leading the team with 430 assists and notching 160 kills last year. She also contributed defensively for the Peahens, tallying 72 total blocks and 218 digs
"Corey touches a great ball and has the height we've needed in this position for a long time being 6'3", but she also has the mobility to play back row. She has experience running a 5-1 as well as 6-2 which will give us some flexibility in our offensive systems."
Also competing will be freshman Jessie Vicic (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada), who was the starting setter on a 5-1 offense of the KW Predators. With Forest Heights Collegiate Institute, Vicic was named First-Team All-Star and helped lead one of the top teams in Ontario to four league championship appearances, including wins in her final two years.
"Jessie has the drive, determination, ability and knowledge to run our offense. She has been trained by some well-known, respected individuals of the game, and her experience, even though a freshman, will prove invaluable to our success."
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
UMES will return its two leaders in digs for 2011 to anchor the rotation. Senior Rebecca Prado (Annandale, N.J.) led the team with 292 digs plus added 77 assists. She was ranked sixth in the MEAC with 3.26 digs per set in MEAC matches. She will serve as a defensive specialist, but can also wear the libero jersey.
"Becky did an unbelievable job last year in a role she did not have a lot of experience in. Becky has impeccable ball control on serve receive, and is a great defender. I look for her to make a solid contribution both on and off the court in her senior season."
Starting libero Jingqiao Li (Beijing, China) returns after a successful freshman season, playing in all 32 games and getting 234 digs. She also added 18 assists on the year.
"Jingqiao will continue to be an asset in regards to our serve receive passing and offensive options we will be able to run. She had a great spring, has become more comfortable in our defensive systems we use, and will be a solid libero choice for us this season."
UTILITY PLAYERS
Nadja NÃÆ'Æ'Æ'ÃÆ'ââ'¬Â '©meth (Bettlach, Switzerland) will add international experience to UMES, helping her teams take first place three times at the Swiss Junior National Championships.
"Nadja has played at a very high international level and has great S/R passing, is defensively quick, and shows great range when attacking. Nadja will be an integral part of our team play and will swing from both pins."
2011 SCHEDULE
UMES is set to play in six regular season invitationals in five different states before a full slate of MEAC matches.
"This year's schedule should allow us to see both regional competition as well as opponents that UMES may have never played before. A lot of the teams on our non conference schedule this season appear to be established squads in regards to their roster. If our young team can compete against "seasoned" squads, this will place us in a position for post season play."
The Hawks will start the 2011 season the same way as last year's campaign with the Tiny Laster Invitational, hosted by Hampton University on August 26th and 27th. Beginning with the Citadel at 10:00 a.m. on August 26th, UMES will play four matches, including three MEAC squads. The team will finish Friday with Bethune-Cookman, then on Saturday it will play Savannah State and tournament host Hampton.
The next weekend, the Hawks will fly to the Sunshine State to compete in the USF Invitational in Tampa, Florida. After a rematch with Bethune-Cookman on Friday, September 2nd, UMES will play tournament host South Florida and Bowling Green on Saturday and wrap up with Eastern Kentucky on Sunday.
From September 9th-10th, UMES will head to Smithfield, Rhode Island to play a trio of matches in the Bryant Invitational. Tournament host Bryant, a participant in the NCAA Tournament last season, will be UMES's opponent on Friday, followed by a pair of matches against Holy Cross and Harvard the following day.
The team will head back to Rhode Island the next weekend for the Brown University Invitational in Providence. After a second match against Bryant on Friday, September 16th, UMES will take on tournament host Brown followed by Fordham on Saturday, September 17th.
UMES will play a pair of matches in the High Point University Invitational on Saturday, September 24th. The Hawks begin with Campbell in the morning followed by tournament host and 2010 NCAA Tournament team High Point in the evening.
Don Metil's squad will return home as they host the UMES Hawk Invitational in Princess Anne on September 30th and October 1st. On Friday, the Hawks will face Alabama State, then play two matches on Saturday against MEAC-opponent North Carolina Central then Cal State Bakersfield.
With the expansion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this season, UMES's conference slate increases to 12 matches. From October 4th to November 13th, the Hawks will have home and road matches (home in bold) against Northern Division opponents Delaware State (10/4, 10/21), Coppin State (10/7, 11/6), Morgan State (10/9, 11/4), Hampton (10/14, 11/13), Norfolk State (10/16, 11/11) and Howard (10/23, 10/28). The regular season concludes with Senior Day against Hampton at 7:00 p.m. on November 13th.
The 2011 MEAC Championship is set to be played from November 18th thru the 20th in Baltimore, hosted by Coppin State.
"In all, the schedule was designed to give us different levels of play, be tested early and often and prepare us for a strong run at defending our Northern Division Title and have a shot at the MEAC championship."
