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Nov. 25, 2003 The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Volleyball Team concluded its season on Saturday, November 22, in Greensboro, NC with a 3-0 loss to the highly talented Florida A & M University Rattlerettes. This loss was only their 12th of the season, an impressive feet since Head Coach Toby Rens came on board three seasons ago. This year's team secured second place in the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference, a place where they predicted to finish at the beginning of the season. That second place overall was because they locked first place in the MEAC Northern Division. They defeated every conference school they played this season with the exception of two matches, those coming at the hands of the Florida A & M Rattlerettes, who won the conference and the title and are ranked as one of the top 30 teams in the country. Overall the Hawks finished 26-12 and 9-1 in the MEAC. They improved by six matches from last season and defeated some stiffer competition including Morgan State University, whom the Hawks hadn't defeated since 1988. They also defeated non-conference opponents such as Navy (where Head Coach Toby Rens recorded his 100th career victory), Sacred Heart, Farleigh Dickinson, Alabama A & M, Alabama State, and Maine. They took a trip to California where they took on four top 25 teams and made impressive showings. The 26 wins are the most ever in the program's history. They recently lost to George Washington and American, but used that tough competition to prepare for the MEAC Tournament, held the weekend of November 21 and 22 in Greensboro, NC. The Hawks were united as a team and ready as individuals. Jana Milin, a five-time player of the week winner and last season's Player and Rookie of the Year in the MEAC has totaled 644 kills, the most in the conference and the most in a single season at UMES; she is currently 15th in the country in kills per game. Her 104 service aces are the fourth most in the country at an average of .80 per game. She was again named the MEAC 2003 Player of the Year, her second consecutive award. Milin is not the only one ranked in aces per game. Freshman Sanda Dzile stands 17th in the country with her 30 and an average of .63. She has been named MEAC Rookie of the week five times as well. Milin's and Dzile's five honors is more than any individual in the conference. Dzile also had 1322 assists, the most in the MEAC and the most ever in a single season at UMES. Dzile was named the 2003 MEAC Rookie of the Year, keeping the award at UMES for a second straight year. Some other outstanding talent joined these two award winners. Junior College transfers Chrissy Jacobs, Mamie Lewis, and Aja Smith have all been huge contributors. Jacobs led the team in attack percentage (.300) and blocks (83), she stands second to Milin in kills, and has been a force in the middle. Lewis is second on the team in blocks and third in kills and has been an intimidator at the net. Smith, who came from the same junior college as Lewis has been a hard hitter all season. Third on the team in kills, Aja has made few mistakes and been hard to defend on the opposite side of Jana. One Hawk that played in her final MEAC Tournament is Sarah Whitfield. Whitfield is the lone senior and serves as team captain, leading her Hawks to the court each match this season. Her leadership has been incredible. Her fellow Hawks, Alex Turner and Eriel Jeffery, brought their style of play form California and have been a force at the net and attacking the ball. They are the future of this team. Marlee Johnson is the underrated Libero of the team. Her defense is one of the best in the MEAC and she keeps many teams from scoring on the Hawks. Candice Ringgold and Stephanie Taylor are small in stature but big in heart. Their digging ability and serving prowess helped the Hawks to their impressive record.
Finally there are three other true first year players (along with Dzile), who have made an impact. Nicole Wilson, standing at 6-2 is a force hitting and blocking the ball. Stephanie and Kim Braxton are twins who are learning the game. They have picked it up quickly and are a big part of the Hawks momentum.
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