Florida A&M's Jovana Blazeski was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year the conference announced today. Preseason honors were voted on by the league's head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers and Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks were picked as the preseason favorites in the northern and southern divisions. Out of 22 first-place votes in their respective divisions, Florida A&M received 19 while Maryland Eastern Shore tallied 20.

Florida A&M posted a 7-1 conference mark and a 14-13 overall record in 2008 en route to their eighth consecutive MEAC title. Blazeski, a 2008 second team All-Conference performer, is one of four Lady Rattlers' returning from last year's championship team. She led the MEAC with 352 kills and 4.21 points per set and finished with 273 digs. She was also selected to the All-Tournament team.

The Lady Hawks recorded an unblemished 10-0 conference mark for the second straight year and a 25-9 overall record in 2008. They bring back a wealth of talent including 2008 MEAC Rookie of the Year Christine Edwards and 2007 MEAC Player of the Year Whitney Johnson.

Joining Blazeski on the preseason team is teammate Susan Egoavil. South Carolina State's Bria Brimmer, Bethune-Cookman's Chelle Ticeson, Whitney Johnson of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State's Cassandra Joyner round out the list of preseason honorees.

Howard University, who tallied a 7-3 mark in conference play a year ago, was picked to finish second in the northern division with one first-place vote and 187 total points. Delaware State (184) was tabbed to finish third followed by Morgan State (149), Hampton (145) and Coppin State (112).

Bethune-Cookman was predicted to finish second in the southern division with 187 points, followed by South Carolina State (183), Norfolk State (169), and North Carolina A&T (144).

Conference play begins on October 5 with the defending MEAC champion Florida A&M Lady Rattlers heading to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs. The 2009 MEAC Volleyball Championship will be held November 20-22 in Baltimore, Md.  

2009 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
(First Place Votes In Parenthesis)

Northern Division                              Pts.
1. Maryland Eastern Shore (20)           257 pts.
2. Howard (1)                                    187 pts.
3. Delaware State (1)                         184 pts.
4. Morgan State                                 149 pts.
5. Hampton                                       145 pts.
6.Coppin State                                   112 pts.

Southern Division                             Pts.
1. Florida A&M (19)                           253 pts.
2. Bethune-Cookman (1)                   187 pts.
3. South Carolina State (1)                183 pts.
4. Norfolk State (1)                           169 pts.
5. North Carolina A&T                        144 pts.

2009 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Jovana Blazeski, Florida A&M