MEAC Releases Volleyball Preseason Poll

Will 2008 be the Year of the Lady Hawks?

Florida A&M University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore were picked as the preseason favorites in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) southern and northern divisions, as voted on by the leagues head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers, who were slated to finish first in the Southern Division, completed the 2007 season with an 8-0 MEAC mark and 18-8 overall record en route to their seventh consecutive MEAC volleyball title. They return four starters including 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year Jovana Blazeski. Blazeski recorded two 20-plus dig outings and seven 20-plus kill performances. She also tallied double-digit kills in 25-of-26 games played.

Florida A&M received 21 first place votes for a total of 261 points to earn the top preseason selection.

North Carolina A&T was predicted to finish second in the Southern Division with 183 points, followed by Bethune-Cookman (177), South Carolina State (154) and Norfolk State (149).

Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks received 17 of the possible 22 first place votes to earn the nod to finish atop the northern divisional standings. The Lady Hawks posted a 10-0 MEAC mark in 2007 and a 24-4 overall record. They return six starters, three of which earned All-MEAC honors including 2007 MEAC Player of the Year Whitney Johnson, Christina Estebane’ and Caylin Woodward. Johnson ranked among the top three in the league in kills, hitting percentage and points.

Morgan State was picked second in the Northern Division with three first place votes and 191 total points, followed by Delaware State (172), Howard (169), Hampton (143) and Coppin State (114).

Conference play begins on October 3 with all MEAC northern and southern teams in action. The 2008 MEAC Volleyball championship is scheduled for November 14-16 in Holland Hall on the campus of Hampton (Va.) University.

2008 MEAC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish
(As voted on by the leagues head coaches and sports information directors)
(First place votes in parentheses)

MEAC Northern Division
Maryland Eastern Shore (17) - 245 pts.
Morgan State (3) - 191 pts.
Delaware State -172 pts.
Howard (2) - 169 pts.
Hampton - 143 pts.
Coppin State - 114 pts.

MEAC Southern Division
Florida A&M (21) - 261 pts.
North Carolina A&T -183 pts.
Bethune-Cookman (1) - 177 pts.
South Carolina State - 154 pts.
Norfolk State - 149 pts.

Courtesy: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference