NORFOLK, Va. – The South Carolina State women's volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division the league announced Friday. Howard was predicted to claim the Northern Division, while Bethune-Cookman was chosen to win the Southern Division.
Howard junior outside hitter Khaila Donaldson was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today. All awards are voted on by the conference's head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.
Defending MEAC tournament champion Howard garnered 19 first-place votes to receive the top spot. The Bison recorded an 18-14 overall record last season, including an 11-1 MEAC mark, under the direction of head coach Shaun Kupferberg.
Maryland Eastern Shore was picked to finish second in the Northern Division, while, Morgan State was predicted to finish third in the Northern Division, followed by Coppin State, Hampton, Norfolk State and Delaware State to round out the division.
Bethune-Cookman received 16 first-place votes after posting an undefeated 10-0 record in the Southern Division and a 15-16 overall mark last season.
Florida A&M earned the second-place preseason ranking in the Southern Division. North Carolina A&T State and North Carolina Central were chosen to finish third and fourth in the Southern Division, while Savannah State was slated sixth.
Conference play begins Friday, September 23.
The 2016 MEAC Volleyball Championship will be held November 18-20 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.
2016 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
(First-Place Votes In Parenthesis)
| NORTHERN DIVISION |
POINTS |
| 1. Howard (19) |
163 |
| 2. Maryland Eastern Shore (5) |
142 |
| 3. Morgan State |
109 |
| 4. Coppin State |
87 |
| 5. Hampton |
72 |
| 6. Norfolk State |
54 |
| 7. Delaware State |
45 |
| SOUTHERN DIVISION |
POINTS |
| 1. Bethune-Cookman (16) |
134 |
| 2. Florida A&M (8) |
124 |
| 3. North Carolina A&T State |
89 |
| 4. North Carolina Central |
83 |
| 5. South Carolina State |
48 |
| 6. Savannah State |
26 |
2016 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Team
Preseason Player of the Year: Khaila Donaldson
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
School |
Hometown |
| Rakaya Neely |
MB |
Jr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Lake Wales, Fla. |
| Phylecia Armstrong |
MB |
r-Sr. |
Bethune-Cookman |
Tacariqua, Trinidad & Tobago |
| Dei'ja Martin |
MB |
Sr. |
Florida A&M |
Glenns Ferry, Idaho |
| Reena Richardson |
OH |
So. |
Hampton |
Ellicott City, Md. |
| Khaila Donaldson |
OH |
Jr. |
Howard |
Vernon Hills, Ill. |
| Morgan Marlbrough |
L |
Sr. |
Howard |
Mandeville, La. |
| Zuzana Ondruskova |
OH |
So. |
Maryland Eastern Shore |
Bilovec, Czech Republic |
