The Hampton University volleyball team looks to avoid complacency coming off a conference tournament title in 2013.
It is a demon that has been known to undermine talent and ruin coaches’ most sophisticated strategy. Second-year Hampton head coach Karen Weatherington is steadfast in her belief that the Lady Pirates, who have six returnees, won’t become another of its victims after winning their first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Championship a year ago.
“Complacency is always a huge concern for any athlete or team that has been successful and worked its way to the top,’’ Weatherington said. “With the team we have returning, they all have a long-range goal of establishing a successful program.’’
Weatherington says the culture of winning that permeates Hampton athletics is what will keep the Lady Pirates from resting on their laurels in 2014. The school won the MEAC’s Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s All-Sport Award for 13 straight years. The award goes to the top overall women’s program in the conference.
“So many of our programs at Hampton have been successful over many years,’’ said Weatherington. “We’re surrounded by programs that already help them to understand what it is to continue that championship mentality. We want to be part of that Hampton pride. The other student-athletes know what it is to come and train day in and day out. You come to train to win. You don’t train to compete when you’re at Hampton. You train to win. I think that expectation within the athletics department, within the culture and the Hampton nation, really pushes them not to become complacent with what they have done but to continue pushing it to the next level.’’
Senior right-side hitter Vendula Strakova had a dream season in 2013 as the Lady Pirates ended Maryland Eastern Shore’s two-year conference tournament championship reign. Strakova led the NCAA Division I in points (6.51 per set) and was second in kills (5.59). She was also the 2013 MEAC Player of the Year, MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, All-East Region and honorable mention All-America.
“Everybody knows she’s the cornerstone of our program,’’ Weatherington said. “The fun part of it is we’re getting to add some new players and have some other areas where players will have chances to score.’’
Outside hitter Krista Kraskura is expected to be a major contributor once again. She was All-MEAC second team in 2013 after averaging 2.25 points and 2.65 kills. Junior outside hitter Alyssa Medina was the team’s most improved player a year ago, and Weatherington expects more production from her. Senior Marija Kocevska’s 44 aces last season were second to Strakova.
The newcomers include Kitija Megne, a transfer from Virginia Tech, who will take over as the team’s setter.
Hampton can expect stern challenges in the Northern Division from Coppin State, the 2013 tournament runner-ups, and Howard. Both have veteran-laden squads as Coppin State features 11 returning letter winners, including three All-MEAC picks – Libero Gabrielle Otero (first team), who holds the school single-game record with 32 digs and single-season mark with 465 (set last season); middle blocker Kandace Thomas (second team), who was second on the team in blocks (69) and third in kills (241), and Cindy Okpegbue (third team), who led the Eagles with 344 kills.
Howard, which finished second in the North last season and lost to Hampton, 3-1, in the conference tournament semifinals, has its entire starting lineup back.
Sophomore outside hitter Katherine Broussard is the Lady Bison’s big gun. Broussard was the 2013 MEAC Rookie of the Year and an All-MEAC first-team selection. She was fifth in the conference in kills per set (3.27) and points per set (3.71). Broussard was also named to the MEAC All-Tournament team. Senior Meagan Lagerlef and sophomore Dominique Cleggett had strong seasons and are looking to increase their productivity. Lagerlef and Cleggett were third (190) and fourth (178) on the team in kills and third (1.84) and fifth (1.52) in kills per set, respectively.
Norfolk State, fourth in the North last season, is poised to make a legitimate run for the top spot in the division. The Spartans return 12 letterwinners and five starters. The key to their success will be the ability of juniors Jessica Johnson, Janay Frazier and Angie Darcus to take on expanded roles. The Spartans are also looking for more options on the attack.
Morgan State returns seven veterans, five of them starters, as it looks to improve on last season’s fifth-place regular season finish and earn a spot in the conference tournament. Seniors Zuri Smith (73.0 blocks) and Ariana Hayden are counted on for leadership
Maryland Eastern Shore is looking to reload following last season’s 3-21 finish. Setter Sonia Rosales leads a group of 11 returning letter winners. Rosales was ninth in the MEAC in assists per set (6.2), and played in all 82 sets. Outside hitter Ashley Smith had a team-best 174 kills. Kirstin Fink and Alana Polk are highly regarded freshmen who are counted on to contribute. Fink played varsity for four years at Sabino High School in Tucson, Ariz., while Polk led Alief Elisk High School (Houston) to three district championships.
Delaware State will look to improve on last season’s 2-22 overall mark and 0-12 conference record. Second-year head coach Kisya Killingsworth will field a young, talented squad. There are no seniors on the retooled roster, and Killingsworth has brought in seven newcomers to go with eight returning letterwinners. Setter Natalia Mendieta was third in the conference in service aces (0.41) and 10th in assists (5.69). Outside hitter Jasmine Jackson was eighth in the MEAC in kills (2.95). Outside hitter Jae Jackson was fourth in blocks per set (.0.87). A key for the Lady Hornets will be how well and how quickly the newcomers blend in.
Florida A&M is out to end its four-year MEAC tournament championship drought after losing to Coppin State in the 2013 conference semifinals. The Lady Rattlers, Southern Division champs every year since the conference switched to the current two-division alignment, have won 13 conference titles, but none since 2009. They look to be the class of the division again this season, despite losing a pair of dynamic performers from the 2013 season in All-MEAC outside hitter Katherine Huanec and setter Dianna Gonzales.
Middle blocker Ginna Lopez-Chavez and libero Joanie Del Castillo, 2013 all-conference selections, lead a group of seven returning letter winners, which includes two other starters. The challenge for the Lady Rattlers is head coach Tony Trifonov’s ability to find enough complementary players to support that quartet.
A battle is brewing the three remaining Southern Division conference tournament spots.
North Carolina A&T looks to build on the momentum gained after enjoying a resurgence last season. The Lady Aggies were runners-up in the division, and reached the conference tournament for the first time since 2007. N.C. A&T posted its highest number of conference wins (6) last season.
The Lady Aggies return nearly their full complement of starters, led by junior All-MEAC right side/middle hitter Aleena McDaniel, who led the team in kills (2.62 per set) and second in digs (2.39). Rejoining McDaniel at the net will be junior outside hitter Brooke Stamnes, who was second in kills (2.49), and averaged 2.19 digs a set. Junior middle hitter Te’Borah Hawkins-Hollingsworth returns as the Lady Aggies’ top blocker from 2013 (58) and was third in kills (1.82).
Other returnees include sophomore setter Liz Martino (602 assists), junior Libero Ashley Johnson (388 assists), and junior defensive specialist Jasmine Jones. Outside hitter/right side T’Keyah Davis, middle hitter Jillian Nobles and right side/middle hitter Jade Boone are expected to make more of an impact as sophomores.
South Carolina State has every reason for optimism this season. The Lady Bulldogs were third in the division last year even though head coach Valerie Jones took over the program just six days before the start of preseason practice. With four returnees, who have a full season in Jones’ system, and strong recruiting class, the Lady Bulldogs have a real shot at moving up in the division.
Junior outside hitter Marrissa Lawrence, right side hitters Erica Pritchett (senior) and Shandice Sluch (junior) and junior setter Melanie Williams will form the Lady Bulldogs’ nucleus. Redshirt-freshman Tyler Ockleberry steps in as the libero.
Freshman recruits Kiara Stone, Ashante Finnie, Brianna Garvin, Kirby Anderson and Marcella Chestnut will be counted on to make contributions as well.
Bethune-Cookman has made consistent progress in three seasons under head coach Isaac Raphael. After losing only one player from the 2013 squad that tied South Carolina State for third place in the division, the Lady Wildcats hope this season will bring them a step closer to their first-ever MEAC Tournament title.
Juniors Delicia Pierre, the team-leader with 353 kills and fifth in the nation in aces per set (0.57); Phylecia Armstrong (155 kills, 59 blocks); Destiny Hudson (231 kills); Rhea Simon (201 kills), sophomore setter Alexas Thomas, (918 assists, including the school single-match record of 48 for three sets), are the team’s core.
Junior College All-American Hazel Ortiz-Rosado, who led Monroe (N.Y.) Community College to a berth in the NJCAA National Tournament, headlines an impressive recruit class. The class also includes freshman middle blocker Rakaya Neely from Frostproof, Fla., who was invited to travel with the 2014 Team Florida High Performance All-Star Delegation to the USA HP Championship, and freshman libero Rechez Lindsay, who played with the Trinidad and Tobago National Team at the Pan-American Cup.
North Carolina Central has turned to former Central Florida assistant Nicki Holmes in an effort to establish the Eagles as a force in the MEAC. Holmes replaces Georgette Crawford-Crooks, who led the Eagles to a 14-37 conference record in three seasons since returning to the MEAC. Eight letter winners and four starters return from last year’s squad that was 3-25 overall and 3-7 in the conference.
Savannah State took a baby step last season, registering the program’s first-ever MEAC victory with a win against North Carolina Central in the season finale. Lady Tigers head coach Jolanta Graham is building the program with an academics-first approach. The Lady Tigers had the second-highest GPA of all of Savannah State’s athletic teams for the 2014 spring semester. They hope for the same kind of results on the court with a squad featuring six returnees, but still will be relatively young and inexperienced. Juniors Justice Dilworth (outside hitter), and Christian Lyle (middle blocker), are the anchors. They led the team with 141 total kills each. Dilworth led in kills per game (1.68), and attack percentage (.045). She was second on the team in total points (171/2.04 per game). Lyle is a former walk-on who led the Lady Tigers with 45 total blocks and 184 points.