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Oct. 5, 2007
By Christopher Delgado
PRINCESS ANNE, Md.-The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) volleyball and cross country teams are off to a hot start this year. Currently, volleyball is riding a 13 match winning streak and is undefeated (15-3, 4-0) in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play as of October 3. With their last win over Howard the Lady Hawks gave Coach Don Metil his 100th career win. The women's cross country team currently holds the best time in conference and is first overall in the MEAC, while the men's team is in second place. With only three sports in season the Hawks have managed to earn six MEAC player of the week awards, four all-tournament team selections, and numerous top performers' honors. Volleyball sophomore standout Whitney Johnson (Prince Frederick, Md./University of Albany) has earned three MEAC player of the week honors to go along with her two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. Johnson won her second MVP award at this past weekend's 2007 UMES Comfort Inn Classic. She led the Lady Hawks to a perfect 4-0 record with wins over Delaware State, St. Francis (PA), Robert Morris, and Norfolk State. Johnson had 65 kills and 18 digs in the four matches of the tournament. Also joining Johnson on the Comfort Inn Classic All-Tournament team were fellow Lady Hawks Caylin Woodward (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica H.S.) and Christina Estebane'(El Paso, Texas/Midland College). Teammate freshman Shaylin Sommer (Atascadero, Calif./Atascadero H.S.) also earned some recognition from the MEAC, being included as a top performer after this past weekend's tournament. She served eight aces in the win over Robert Morris. Woodward, Peter Sang (Kapsabet, Kenya/Kapsabet Boys H.S.), and Merrecia James (Portland, Jamaica/G.C. Foster C.C.) were the other three Hawk athletes to win MEAC player of the Week in their respective sports. James also received a nod from the MEAC as an `Other Top Performer' for her effort during the Cappy Anderson Invitational. Sang won the Cappy Anderson Invitational earlier this season while James took first at the UMES Lid Lifter to open the season. All in all there are nine Hawks ranked in the top 20 for fastest times in Cross-Country this season. UPCOMING MATCH UMES volleyball is back in action at home, where they are undefeated this season on Saturday, October 6 at 12:00 p.m. against Morgan State. UPCOMING MEET The UMES cross country teams will travel to Norfolk, Va. to compete in the Norfolk State University Invitational on Saturday, October 6 at 10 a.m. |
