NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 8, 2023 –
Howard University sophomore outside hitter Rya McKinnon was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced. In addition, the Bison and Coppin State were selected as the preseason favorites to win the conference.
All awards were voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
McKinnon, the 2022 MEAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, was also named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention and East Region Freshman of the Year after leading the Bison to a share of the 2022 MEAC regular-season title and a 20-win season. Her 3.37 kills per set led the conference, as did her 3.83 points per set, and she was fourth in hitting percentage at .324.
In MEAC play, McKinnon averaged 4.05 kills and 4.64 points per set.
Coppin State and Howard, which shared the 2022 regular-season title, ended up tied with 112 points in the preseason poll; the Eagles racked up nine of a possible 16 first-place votes, with the Bison earning three. Tournament champion Delaware State was picked to finish third and earned four first-place votes. Coppin State, Delaware State, and Howard all had 20-win seasons in 2022, marking the first time since 2005 three MEAC programs reached that mark.
Norfolk State, North Carolina Central, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, and South Carolina State round out the predicted order of finish.
Joining McKinnon on the Preseason All-MEAC team are Coppin State’s Ashley Roman (2022 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year), Andrea Tsvetanova (2022 MEAC Co-Setter of the Year) and Ammaarah Williams, Delaware State’s Alondra Maldonado (the 2022 MEAC Championship Outstanding Performer), and fellow Bison Kayla Diaz (2022 MEAC Co-Setter of the Year) and Jennifer Bolden.
The 2023 season is set to begin the weekend of Aug. 25-27, with the 2023 MEAC Volleyball Championship taking place in Delaware State University’s Memorial Hall on Nov. 17-19. All eight teams will compete in the championship.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 53
rd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2023-24 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. For more information about the MEAC, visit
www.MEACSports.com.