Volleyball MEAC Media Relations

FLORIDA A&M DEFEATS MORGAN STATE FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT MEAC TITLE

Florida A&M captured its sixth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship and ninth overall with a 3-0 win over Morgan State, Saturday afternoon at Holland Hall on the campus of Hampton University. With the win, the Lady Rattlers earn the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Florida A&M led throughout game one, winning 30-23. The Lady Rattlers struck first scoring five points before the Lady Bears notched their first point of the match. MEAC Player of the Year, Maria Andonova led her team with six kills and two digs during the game.

Andonova led her team with a match-high 30 kills and also tallied 18 digs.

“I have been on this team for four years and I really think I improved a lot this year,” Andonova said, “I guess since it is my last year I had a lot more motivation to play better.”

Marrita Royster-Crockett, Outstanding Tournament Performer, followed with 12 kills and nine digs while hitting .400 from the floor.

“I have learned so much from Maria (Andonova). Transferring in this year to Florida A&M, I set out to become a better player and after today I know that I have achieved that goal,” Royster-Crockett said.

The Lady Rattlers dominated game two and defeated the Lady Bears 30-14. The Lady Bears rallied during the third game, behind the play of MEAC Rookie of the Year, Ivanti Bush. Bush posted a team high eight kills. Three Lady Bears posted double-digit dig performances for the defensive effort. Ashley Preston led the Lady Bears with 22 digs.

“I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy match to win going in,” said Morgan State Head Coach Ramona Riley-Bozier. “With a team like Florida A&M you can’t make to many errors.”

Florida A&M Head Coach, Tanio “Tony” Trifonov earned Tournament Outstanding Coach accolades. This is the sixth consecutive time Trifonov has been awarded the honor. Florida A&M has won 56 tournament games since 1983 and with the automatic qualification will make its seventh NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball tournament appearance.

“This win is special because we have had some injuries this year and had some retooling of the line but we came together,” said Trifonov. “This is one of the best teams I have had in a while because they are all friends out there as well as teammates, which made me feel real comfortable about coming into this year’s tournament.”


2006 MEAC All-Tournament Team

Outstanding Player: Marrita Royster-Crockett, Florida A&M
Outstanding Coach: Tanio Trifonov, Florida A&M

Maritta Royster-Crockett, Florida A&M
Ivanti Bush, Morgan State
Jeniqua Moran, Morgan State
Maria Andonova, Florida A&M
Jasmine George, Coppin State
Arlene Mitchell, North Carolina A&T