NORFOLK, Va., July 13, 2021 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has named Salma Gonzalez from Coppin State University as the 2021 Woman of the Year, the conference office announced today.
The award, selected annually by the MEAC Senior Woman Administrators, celebrates the achievements of senior female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
“Congratulations to Salma Gonzalez for having a spectacular career, not only in volleyball, but in her academic pursuits as well,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said. “Furthermore, her service to the community is truly exceptional. I would like to thank the Coppin State University athletic staff, coaches, academic support personnel and Salma’s family, who all have had an influential part in her success.”
A native of Isabela, Puerto Rico, Gonzalez played a key role in the Eagles winning the MEAC Northern Division regular-season title for the first time this past spring and advancing to the title match of the MEAC Volleyball Championship. A three-time MEAC All-Academic honoree, Gonzalez had 93 kills in 60 sets played this past season. She was ninth in the MEAC with 21 aces (19 in conference play, which was fourth-best) and second on the team with 133 digs.
Gonzalez transferred to Coppin State in 2019 after two seasons at Savannah State.
Graduating this past May with a 3.61 GPA in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Chemistry, Gonzalez was a leader in both the campus community and for her home. At both Savannah State and Coppin State, she gave virtual orientations for student-athletes from Puerto Rico on the athletic scholarship process.
In addition, Gonzalez represented Coppin State in the Virtual Latinx Convention in 2020 and she was the team lead for three years at the Coppin State North Avenue Cleanup.
Gonzalez has also been a food drive organizer in support of earthquake victims in Puerto Rico, and in 2017-18, she organized a supply drive for victims of Hurricane Maria, and she also collected sporting goods for Puerto Rico following the storm.
She was also the 2020-21 CSU President’s Eagle Award recipient.
Gonzalez is now a candidate for the NCAA Woman of the Year, which will be announced in the fall.
Morgan State’s Stephanie Rundlett (softball) was the 2021 MEAC Woman of the Year runner-up. She graduated with a degree in Physical Education with a 3.35 GPA.
MEAC Woman of the Year Honorees
2006 Renecia Lovelace, North Carolina A&T State (Softball)
2007 Courtney Smiley, Howard (Basketball)
2008 Jessica Worsley, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2009 Loreal Smith, North Carolina A&T State (Track and Field)
2010 Kalyn Washburn, Delaware State (Bowling)
2011 Kristina Frahm, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2012 Jazmyne Hefflefinger, Delaware State (Bowling)
2013 T’nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2014 Christina Epps, Coppin State (Track and Field)
2015 Mariana Alvarado Nava, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2016 Jenny Tracy, North Carolina Central (Softball)
2017 Thashaina Seraus, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2018 Lyndsey Edwards, Bethune-Cookman (Basketball)
2019 Damali Young, Morgan State (Softball)
2020 Alelee Figueroa, Florida A&M (Track and Field)
2021 Salma Gonzalez, Coppin State (Volleyball)
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.