PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - After leading UMES to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth, Hawks outside hitter Saitaua Iosia has been named COBRA Magazine's Freshman of the Year. The COBRA East Region Player of the Year also earned a place on the All-National First Team, the highest placement ever bestowed by the publication for a UMES volleyball player.
Iosia becomes the second UMES player to be an All-National Team member, joining Whitney Johnson, who was on the Second Team in 2009.
In addition, sophomore outside hitter Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah), a COBRA All-East Region Team member, got an All-National Honorable Mention for the second year in a row.
The online publication COBRA Magazine, in its mission statement, honors the success of volleyball players of African, Samoan and Tongan descent. This is their third-annual national team.
Iosia finished the season ranked in the top-50 in all of Division I in points per set with 4.77 (26th), aces per set with 0.42 (27th) and kills per set at 4.07 (41st). She ended the year with 472 kills on a hitting percentage of .292, 49 service aces and 54 total blocks.
Vaitai completed the season 10th in the MEAC in points per set at 3.40 and 180th in Division I in aces per set, earning a total of 317 kills, 35 aces and 59 blocks.
Iosia and Vaitai were two of the four players from the MEAC placed on the All-National lists, including Tosin Elebute of Howard and Desire Waller of South Carolina State.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com