Princess Anne, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason poll, with Ranyla Griggs named to the preseason All-MEAC team when the league released its poll Tuesday afternoon.
Last season, Griggs led UMES with 303 kills and a team-high 2.83 kills per set, ranking eighth in the MEAC. She started 27 of 28 matches, topped the team with 319 points, and also ranked eighth in the MEAC with 3.81 points per set. Griggs was named MEAC Player of the Week twice and recorded a season-high 21 kills in a match against Howard on Oct. 29.
UMES tallied 73 points in the preseason poll. Howard was the preseason pick to win the league with 124 points and 14 first-place votes.
UMES was followed in the poll by Norfolk State (75 points), North Carolina Central (46), Morgan State (38), and South Carolina State (21). Howard, Coppin State, and Norfolk State each received one first-place vote.
The Hawks will compete with Salisbury University in an exhibition match on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 3 p.m. in the Maggs Physical Activities Center. Next week, the team will open the regular season with a trip to Mercyhurst University on Aug. 30 and 31, with games at 6 p.m. and 1 p.m. in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
2024 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Howard (14) 124
2. Coppin State (1) 101
3. Delaware State 93
4. Maryland Eastern Shore 78
5. Norfolk State (1) 75
6. North Carolina Central 46
7. Morgan State 38
8. South Carolina State 21
() denotes first-place votes
2024 MEAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Rya Mckinnon, Howard, Jr., OH
Ta'Kenya Stafford, Coppin State, Jr., OH
Gabrielle Gilbert, Norfolk State, So., OH
Cimone Woodard, Howard, Sr., MB
Alondra Maldonado, Delaware State, Gr., OH
Kelsie Dawson, Delaware State, Sr., MB
Loren Johnson, North Carolina Central, Sr., DS
Ranyla Griggs, Maryland Eastern Shore, Sr., OH
For the latest news and information on UMES volleyball, visit the official website for UMES Athletics at umeshawksports.com. Fans can also follow the Hawks on social media at Eastern Shore Hawks (Facebook), umeshawksvball (Instagram) and UMESHawksVBall (Twitter).
