Unknowns concern MEAC power FAMU

Photo: Tanio "Tony" Trifonov

Rattlers seek 8th title in a row in volleyball

By Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida A&M women's volleyball coach Tony Trifonov hasn't been getting much sleep lately.

Carolina Mariane Trifonov, born Aug. 5 to Trifonov and his wife, Mariela Portocarrero-Trifonov, can account for much of his sleep depravation.

Trifonov said preparing for the upcoming season has also given him a few sleepless nights in Tallahassee this summer.

There was a point when Trifonov was worried that he wouldn't have enough players to field a team this season.

"It's been a rough offseason," Trifonov said. "We had a lot of issues to overcome."

Although depth will be an issue, Trifonov said he believes he's assembled a roster ready to go after an eighth consecutive MEAC Championship.

"If everybody is healthy, we should be a better team than we were last year," Trifonov said. "We have to defend our reputation in the MEAC."

The two main health issues facing the Lady Rattlers are the back of sophomore outside hitter Maria Gomez and the throat of junior outside hitter Marrita Royster-Crockett.

Gomez, who was fourth on the team in kills per game last season, was a question mark heading into the Sept. 7 season opener at Clemson but has been able to practice with the team.

Royster-Crockett, on the other hand, may not be available to play until the Lady Rattlers' Sept. 9 home opener against Mercer after having her tonsils removed two weeks ago.

Royster-Crockett is scheduled to meet with her doctor Monday and may be cleared to do limited practicing with the team next week.

"I've been eating popsicles and chopped-up scrambled eggs," Royster-Crockett said. "I just started eating a little rice, but I've already lost 11 pounds."

Royster-Crockett's absence means Trifonov will start the season without his top two hitters from last season with the graduation of 2006 MEAC Player of the Year Maria Andonova.

Trifonov also graduated All-MEAC setter Rosa Rojas. Trifonov said freshmen Susan Egoavil from Jorge Polar High School in Lima, Peru, and Jovana Blazeski from Valjevo High School in Valjevo, Serbia, will be asked to step in and play right away.

"We lost two starters, and they will be hard shoes to fill," Trifonov said. "We believe our newcomers should be able to come in and help the team right away. Plus the team is a year older."

Blazeski is an outside hitter and Egoavil is a defensive specialist. Trifonov, criticized in the past for his heavy use of foreign players, also signed outside hitter Chelsea Pennick out of Old Christian Prep in Orlando.

"She is a very athletic player and she is picking up a lot fast," Trifonov said of Pennick. "She will develop into a good player for us."

With the first game less than two weeks away, Pennick and the rest of the newcomers will have to do a lot of their developing on the fly.

"It's like a whole new team," said senior middle blocker Hannah Uckelman. "The new players are going to have to be ready. It will be interesting to see how it comes together."

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Photo: Marrita Royster-Crockett (right)

2007 FAMU Volleyball Team

NO NAME HT/WT POS Year Hometown - Last School
3 Marrita Royster-Crockett 6-0 OH JR Tallahassee, FL - Florida State
5 Cinthya Corzo 6-2 MB SO Lima, Peru - Alexander Von Humbolde
6 Chelsea Pennick 5-10 OH FR Orlando, FL - Old Christian Prep
7 Susan Egoavil 5-6 LB FR Lima, Peru - Jorge Polar HS
9 Maria Gomez 6-2 OH SO Guayaquil, Eucador - Noevo Mundo
10 Zaira Manzo 5-10 S SO Lima, Peru - Santa Maria of Fatima
12 Hannah Uckelmann 6-0 MB SR Senden, Germany - Joseph-Haydn
15 Jovana Blazeski 6-2 OH FR Belgrade, Serbia - Tech School of Civil Eng
16 Iva Lakic 6-0 MB SR Valjevo, Serbia - Valjevo HS