NORFOLK, Va., September 1, 2014 – Hampton senior Vendula Strakova and Coppin State junior Cindy Okpegbue were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Co-Players of the Week. Howard’s Khaila Donaldson earned the Rookie of the Week honors, the conference announced on Monday.

 

Strakova (RS, 6-0, Sr., Brno, Czech Republic) paced the Lady Pirates to victories over Bradley, Stony Brook and DePaul at the DePaul Invitational. She recorded a double-double of 27 kills and 10 digs against DePaul. Strakova averaged 5.58 kills, hit .359 and was selected Most Valuable Player of the DePaul Invitational.

 

Okpegbue (OH, 5-8, Jr., Houston, Texas) averaged 4.65 kills and 8.25 digs in four matches at the La Salle Tournament. She notched a double-double of 20 kills and 19 digs in a 3-1 win over Loyola (Md.). Okpegbue was selected to the All-Tournament Team as the Lady Eagles went 2-2 during the weekend.

 

Donaldson (OH, 5-11, Fr., Vernon Hills, Ill.) totaled 40 kills, 36 digs and nine blocks against George Mason, American and Georgetown. She recorded a pair of double-doubles in kills and digs against George Mason (21 kills and 15 digs) and American (15 kills and 13 digs).

 

Other Top Performers: 

Justice Dilworth (SSU) finished with 24 total kills, including 13 in a three-set win against Brewton-Parker.

 

Hope Forsythe (NSU) totaled 32 kills, seven digs, five blocks and three assists against James Madison, Villanova and Charleston Southern.

 

Arianna Hayden (MSU) was selected to the Charlotte Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.2 kills and six digs in four matches.

 

Bailee Jackson (CSU) registered a career-best 22 digs in a 3-2 loss to Manhattan.

 

Valeria Lopez (FAMU) finished with 85 total assists, including 37, in a five-set loss to Florida Gulf Coast.

 

Liz Martino (NCAT) recorded a double-double in the season-opener against Chicago State with 29 assists and 14 digs.

 

Alliyah McBean (DSU) recorded 45 total digs in three matches, including a career-best 26 against Niagara.

 

Kelsey Murphy (NCCU) registered a double-double of 12 kills and 10 digs against Valparaiso.

 

Rakaya Neelt (B-CU) tallied 11 kills and five blocks against McNeese State.

 

Paige Phillips (NCCU) finished with 40 assists in a four-set loss to Valparaiso.

 

Rhea Simon (BCU) notched her first-career double-double with 20 kills and 14 digs against McNeese State.

 

Zariya Thomas (SSU) tallied seven kills, four blocks and four digs in a 3-0 win over Brewton-Parker.