SC State's Waller Named the 2013 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year

Desiree Waller

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  SC State outside hitter Desire Waller has been named the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year.  She has also been named to the MEAC Preseason First Team.  Preseason honors, which were announced today by the league office, were voted on by the head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.  The Lady Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the Southern Division.

Waller, (Houston, Texas/Alief Taylor HS), who is the two-time reigning MEAC Volleyball Player of the Year, led the MEAC with 4.91 kills per set during her junior season. The senior ranked among the top ten in the conference in hitting percentage (.255) and kills (381). Waller surpassed the 1,000-kill mark last season, and added 169 digs, 2.19 digs/set and 42 blocks during the 2012 season. She concluded the regular season with eight 20-plus kill performances, including a MEAC season-high 31 kills in a conference win over North Carolina Central. Waller finished the 2012 season ranked 3rd in kills per set and 4th in points per set in the Nation.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers and the Hampton Lady Pirates were picked as the preseason favorites in the Southern and Northern Divisions, respectively. Florida A&M received 19 first-place votes, while Hampton garnered 14.

SC State will begin its 2013 campaign the weekend of Friday-Saturday, Aug. 30-31, when the Lady Bulldogs travel to Columbia, S.C. to participate in the Gamecock Invitational Hosted by the University of South Carolina.

See Below for the 2013 Predicted Order of Finish and complete Preseason Team.

2013 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish 

(First Place Votes In Parenthesis)

Northern Division                              Pts.
1. Hampton (14)                                  274 pts.
2. Maryland Eastern Shore (10)          249 pts.
3. Norfolk State (2)                              218 pts.
4. Coppin State                                   177 pts.
5. Morgan State                                  154 pts.
6. Delaware State                               130 pts.
7. Howard                                            123 pts.

Southern Division                             Pts.
1. Florida A&M (19)                             282 pts.
2. North Carolina Central (3)               225 pts.
3. South Carolina State (4)                 211 pts.
4. Bethune-Cookman                          191 pts.
5. North Carolina A&T                         177 pts.
6. Savannah State                              136 pts.

2013 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Desire Waller, South Carolina State

Name                          Pos.    Cl.       School            Hometown
Krista Kraskura           OH       Jr.        Hampton         Kuldiga, Latvia
ChristineAnthony        OH       So.       NCCU             Willemstad, Curacao
Desire Waller              OH       Sr.       SCSU              Houston, Texas
Goda Jankauskaite     MB       Sr.       NSU                Kaunas, Lithuania     
Kalin Russell               MB       Sr.       NCCU             Baldwin, N.Y.            
Bibiany Fonseca         S          Sr.       Hampton         Uberlandia, Brazil      
Noelle Eagles              L          R.-Jr.   NSU                Richmond, Ind.       

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION