Volleyball | 11/19/2025 10:20:07 PM

NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 19, 2025 – Coppin State University senior outside hitter TaKenya Stafford has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Player of the Year, the conference office announced today.
 
Coppin State’s Cherisse Atilano was selected as the MEAC Rookie of the Year, while teammate Coco Figueroa earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. The MEAC Setter of the Year accolade went to Howard’s Leah Reeves, and Coppin State head coach Tim Walsh was voted Coach of the Year. 

Stafford earned Player of the Year honors after delivering a dominant senior campaign, breaking Coppin State’s single-season kills record with 447. She finishes the season with 318 digs, 32 aces and 23 assists. A preseason All-MEAC selection, she earned three MEAC Player of the Week honors and ranked among the league leaders in kills and points per set. 

Atilano made an immediate impact in her freshman season for the Eagles, earning MEAC Rookie of the Week honors four times, the most among first-year players this season. She was also the only freshman to earn a MEAC Player of the Week award this season. Atilano finished with 337 kills, 325 digs and 44 aces on the season. 
Figueroa built on her First Team All-MEAC selection in 2024 by securing the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year honor. This season, she earned three MEAC Defensive Player of the Week awards after being selected to the preseason All-MEAC Team. Figueroa totaled 548 digs, 162 kills, 39 aces and five blocks on the season. She played in 118 sets this year, helping lead the Eagles to a 20-11 record. 

Walsh guided Coppin State to a remarkable 13-1 MEAC record and a 20-11 overall finish, securing the program’s regular-season championship and the top seed in this year’s tournament. Under Walsh, the Eagles return to the top of the conference, aiming to reclaim the MEAC tournament title, which they last won in 2023. This marks Coppin State’s third 20+ win season in the last four years under Walsh, who earned his fourth MEAC Coach of the Year award. 
 
 MEAC ALL-FIRST TEAM 

1. TaKenya Stafford- OH- Coppin State 
2. Gabrielle Gilbert- OH- Norfolk State 
3. Rya McKinnon- OH- Howard 
4. Kamren Harper- OH- NC Central 
5. Zenai Jethroe- MB- Howard 
6. Kayden Cupid- MB- Coppin State 
7. Jada Williams-MB- Morgan State 
8. Leah Reeves- S- Howard 
9. Coco Figueroa- L/DS- Coppin State 

 
 
MEAC ALL-SECOND TEAM 

1. Gerren Tomlin- OH- Delaware State 
2. Daniela Ferreira-OH- Morgan State 
3. Cherisse Atilano- OH- Coppin State 
4. Manuela Cripa Nasser- S- NC Central 
5. Alexys James- S- Howard 
6. Lilliana Montes- MB-Maryland Eastern Shore 
7. Loren Johnson-L- NC Central 

 
MEAC ALL-ROOKIE TEAM 

1. Cherisse Atilano- OH- Coppin State 
2. Alexys James- S- Howard 
3. Jayda Hutchins- S- UMES 
4. Allyson Rouse- NCCU 
5. Isabelle Brown-S- Morgan State 
6. Malaysia Shaw- Maryland Eastern Shore