BCSP X-16: BCSP Notes

MEAC Volleyball
Florida A&M captured their third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship with a straight set victory over second seed Maryland-Eastern Shore 30-18, 30-21, 30-16, Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Parks & Recreation Sportsplex.

Adriana Kostadinova received tournament outstanding performer honors as she compiled 45 kills and an average of 5.00 kills per game for the tournament.

Jayli Jackson led FAMU with 14 kills. Kostadinova added 13 for the Rattlers. Jana Milin led the Hawks with 14 kills and seven digs.

With the win the FAMU receives the leagues' automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. First and second round matches will be held on the campuses of participating institutions beginning December 4.

Maryland-Eastern Shore's Milin and Sanda Dzile were selected the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player and Rookie of the Year, as voted by the leagues' Head Volleyball Coaches and Sports Information Directors. Florida A&M's Tony Trifonov picked up Coach of the Year honors.

Trifonov led FAMU to a perfect 10-0 record in league play and their third straight championship. The Lady Rattlers, currently on a 21-match win streak, have won 66 consecutive matches against MEAC opponents. Their last lost to an MEAC team was in 1998 when they were swept 3-0 by North Carolina A&T.

Milin, who received Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in 2002, led the Lady Hawks to a 24-11 overall record and 9-1 MEAC record. The 5-10 sophomore outside hitter from Pula, Croatia, was selected the MEAC Player of the Week five times this season. She leads the MEAC in kills per game, averaging 5.38.

Dzile, named Rookie of the Week five times in 2003, keeps the Rookie of the Year trophy at Maryland-Eastern Shore, giving the Lady Hawks their second straight Rookie honor. Dzile (5-10, setter, Bauska, Latoria) leads the league in total assists 1224 and ranks second in assists per game (10.37).

2003 MEAC Volleyball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Andreina Ruiz, Florida A&M, OH, 5-10, So., Lima, Peru
Jana Milin, UMES, OH, 5-10, So., Pula, Croatia
Jayli Jackson, Florida A&M, MB, 6-3, Jr. San Diego, Calif.
Tiffany Oliver, Morgan State, MB, 6-2, Sr., Merced, Calif.
A.Kostadinova, Florida A&M, OH, 6-3, So., Sofia, Bulgaria
M. Portocarrero, Florida A&M, S, 6-0, Jr., Lima, Peru

Coach of the Year: Tony Trifonov, Florida A&M
Player of the Year: Jana Milin, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Rookie of the Year: Sanda Dzile, Maryland-Eastern Shore

Albany State falls
The Albany State University Lady Rams fell short of bringing a regional volleyball championship back to Albany. The Lady Rams lost to the Central Missouri State University Jennies, 3-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Central Volleyball Regional Tournament on Nov. 20. The Lady Rams led during the first game, but were unable to hold the lead as the Jennies won with scores of 30-26, 30-16 and 30-16 to advance to the regional semifinals.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) champs were led by Janel Herring, who recorded 11 kills for the Lady Rams. Sandra Boyd added eight kills and 15 digs, and Eshovo Amune had seven digs. Setter Erica Nepote had 26 assists and nine digs, and Alona Brinson and Kierra Washington each had two blocks The Lady Rams finish the 2003 season with a 28-9 record.

SAC Lady Falcons fall
Saint Augustine's College lost in opening round action at the NCAA Division II Volleyball Regionals. St. Aug fell to Indiana (PA), 3-1, in the Atlantic Regional Tournament.

No. 3 Indiana (Pa.) fought back after a first-game loss for the four-game victory over No. 6 St. Augustine's (25-5), 26-30, 30-25, 30-21, and 30-22.

St. Augustine's came out swinging in game one against Indiana, registering 17 kills en route to the 30-16 victory. Indiana battled back, winning a close 30-25 game after capitalizing on 10 attack errors by the Lady Falcons.

St. Aug's Katrina Johnson paced the Lady Falcons with 18 kills and totaled eight digs. Junior middle Magaly Gomez recorded 12 kills, 11 digs and three aces in the loss. Outside hitter Aurea Griffith added nine kills and nine assists.

BCSP Notes . . .