NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 16, 2021—
Coppin State’s Miajavon Coleman was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, the conference office announced today.
Howard’s Bria Woodard was named Rookie of the Year, while
North Carolina Central’s Lauren Janok and
Coppin State’s Ashley Roman were named Setter of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
Dr. Bruce Atkinson of Delaware State earned Coach of the Year honors.
All awards, presented by TowneBank, were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Coleman was the MEAC leader this season in both kills (3.63 per set) and points (3.89 per set), while also ranking eighth in the conference in digs per set with 3.00. In MEAC play, she led with 3.57 kills per set and her 3.89 points per set were second-best. She was seventh in the MEAC in digs per set with 2.74, and Coleman racked up a MEAC-best 12 double-doubles on the season. The two-time MEAC Player of the Week eclipsed the 20-kill mark twice this season (including a season-high 24 at North Carolina Central), and she currently ranks fifth in MEAC history in career points and eighth in career kills.
Woodard ranked eighth in the MEAC this season in both kills and points per set, averaging 2.65 kills and 3.14 points, respectively. The Missouri City, Texas native averaged 3.28 points per set in MEAC play, eighth-best, and was ninth with 2.73 kills per set against conference opponents. Woodard reached double-digit kills 13 times, including a season-best 19 against Harvard, and she had four double-doubles on the season. She was a two-time MEAC Rookie of the Week this season.
Janok led the MEAC with 8.73 assists per set this season, while also ranking eighth in service aces (0.35 per set) and 10
th in digs (2.78 per set). She boasts the lone triple-double in the MEAC this season, which came Sept. 7 against UNC Greensboro (33 assists, 15 digs, 10 kills). In MEAC play, Janok averaged a MEAC-best 9.33 assists per set, and her 2.71 digs per set were eighth-best and her 0.35 service aces per set 10
th-best. Janok was named MEAC Setter of the Week five times this season, and she had a MEAC-best 12 double-doubles.
Roman, the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and Preseason Player of the Year heading into 2021, led the MEAC and ranked 27
th nationally in digs this season, averaging 5.01 per set to help the Eagles lead in team digs (16.58 per set). In MEAC play, Roman averaged 4.77 digs per set, second in the conference, and she had double-digit digs in all but one match. Roman eclipsed the 20-dig mark 13 times – including in four of the last five matches – and her season high of 25 came against Norfolk State and Howard in back-to-back matches.
Atkinson led the Hornets to a share of the MEAC regular-season championship after going 12-2 in MEAC play, while setting a new program record with 24 wins on the season. The Hornets boast the nation’s eighth-best winning percentage (.889) and at one point in the season, Delaware State had won 16 straight matches. Among the Hornets’ non-conference wins this season were Saint Peter’s (twice), Bucknell, Georgetown, Manhattan, Siena and Binghamton (twice).
Joining Coleman, Woodard, Janok and Roman on the All-MEAC First Team are Coppin State’s Paola Caten, Delaware State’s Alondra Maldonado and North Carolina Central’s Ammaarah Williams.
The MEAC Volleyball Championship begins Friday with the quarterfinal round; the first match is set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday’s semifinals will begin at 5 p.m., while Sunday’s championship match will start at 8 p.m. and be shown live on ESPNU and ESPN3.
For more information on the MEAC Volleyball Championship, including bracket and full schedule, visit Championship Central at
www.MEACsports.com.