Volleyball | 8/18/2026 3:00:00 PM

NORFOLK, Va. – Coppin State senior libero Coco Figueroa has been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year, while the Eagles were picked to finish atop the league standings, the conference announced Tuesday.

The preseason awards and poll were determined by votes from the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Figueroa, the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference with 599 digs (4.54 per set) in 2025 and earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors seven times. A native of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, she recorded double-digit digs in 30 matches, including 12 matches with 20 or more digs. Figueroa also earned First Team All-MEAC and Second Team All-ECAC honors a season ago.

Coppin State was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving 92 points and seven first-place votes. Howard followed in second with 85 points and two first-place votes, while Delaware State placed third with 72 points and two first-place votes. Morgan State was fourth with 68 points, followed by Maryland Eastern Shore (59), Norfolk State (41), North Carolina Central (37) and South Carolina State (14). Norfolk State also received two first-place votes.

Figueroa headlines the Preseason All-MEAC Team alongside Coppin State teammates Cherisse Atilano and Kayden Cupid, Howard’s Zenai Jethroe, Alexys James and Kaitlynn Robinson and Norfolk State’s Gabrielle Gilbert.

MEAC Predicted Order of Finish

1. Coppin State 92 (7)
2. Howard 85 (2)
3. Delaware State 72 (2)
4. Morgan State 68
5. Maryland Eastern Shore 59
6. Norfolk State 41 (2)
7. North Carolina Central 37
8. South Carolina State 14

 
MEAC Preseason All-Conference Team
 
Preseason Player of the Year – Coco Figueroa, Coppin State
 

Name	Class	Pos.	School
Coco Figueroa	Senior	L	Coppin State
Cherisse Atilano	Sophomore	OH	Coppin State
Zenai Jethroe	Senior	MB	Howard
Gabrielle Gilbert	Senior	OH/OPP	Norfolk State
Kayden Cupid	Junior	MH	Coppin State
Alexys James	Sophomore	S	Howard
Kaitlynn Robinson	Senior	MB	Howard

 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: 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. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.