MEAC Volleyball Bracket
BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 17, 2009)-The Morgan State volleyball team will enter this weekend’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) volleyball championship tournament as the No. 3 seed in the North Division and will face Bethune-Cookman the No. 2 seed in the South on Friday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Coppin Center on the campus of Coppin State University.
Morgan State (9-21, 4-6 MEAC), which last season failed to reach the tournament for the first time in school history, won a three-way tiebreaker over Howard and Hampton to capture the third seed in the MEAC North Division, while the Lady Bison of Howard earned the fourth and final spot. Delaware State secured the second seed, while Maryland Eastern Shore, which went a perfect 10-0 in league play for the third consecutive season secured the top spot.
“I am happy that this team has been given an opportunity to play for a MEAC title,” said Morgan State head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier. “We have been plagued for the last two seasons with injuries, but this year we were able to overcome those obstacles and be seeded third in the North.”
“Although we are not 100%, I am hoping that each athlete will dig deep and play hard,” added Bozier. “I think it will be an exciting tournament and I am glad that we get to bring some of that excitement.”
The Lady Bears have been paced by Erin Cox, who leads the team in kills with 307 (3.23 kps) and service aces (35) and finished fourth in digs with 159. Ivanti Bush ranks second on the squad in kills with 222 (2.71 kps) and digs 227. Christa Rogers has totaled 653 assists this season and has added 164 digs, 45 kills and is third on the team in blocks with 43. Dina Beamon has tallied a team-leading 302 digs. Dominique Bozier has a team-high 66 blocks and is fourth on the squad in kills with 115, while Kierra Riley is second on the team in blocks with 56 and is second in service aces with 16.
The top spot in the southern division was captured by Florida A&M, which finished with an 8-0 mark in conference play. The Lady Rattlers have won nine of the last ten MEAC titles, including the last eight. Bethune-Cookman (12-14, 5-3 MEAC) captured the second seed in the MEAC South Division, while South Carolina State earned the third seed and Norfolk State rounded out the fourth and final spot.
Only the top four teams in each division are eligible to compete for the conference title. Seedings are determined by conference records. Hampton (4-6), Coppin State (0-10) and North Carolina A&T (0-8) have been eliminated from tournament play based on their MEAC record.
The MEAC volleyball championship tournament begins on Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22 at the Coppin Center on the campus of Coppin State University. The championship will conclude with the championship finale at noon on Sunday, Nov. 20. The match will be televised on ESPNU in a tape-delayed broadcast on the same day beginning at 10 p.m.
The MEAC Media Relations Office contributed to portions of this release.
2009 MEAC Volleyball Championship Seedings
Northern Division
1. Maryland Eastern Shore (10-0, 22-6)
2. Delaware State (8-2, 19-12)
3. Morgan State (4-6, 9-21)
4. Howard (4-6, 8-26)
Southern Division
1. Florida A&M (8-0, 14-8)
2. Bethune-Cookman (5-3, 12-14)
3. South Carolina State (4-4, 13-19)
4. Norfolk State (3-5, 8-21)