Hornets Predicted to Finish 5th in MEAC North for 2012 - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -

NORFOLK, Va.– The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced this week their 2012 preseason volleyball predictions and the Delaware State University Hornets were selected to finish fifth in the northern division.

As a team, Del. State received a total of 144 points from the conference's head volleyball coaches and sports information directors in the preseason poll. The Hornets are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 season where they finished 5-20 overall and failed to make the MEAC Tournament for the first time in school history.

The defending MEAC champion University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks were chosen for the third consecutive year as preseason favorites to win the northern division with 306 points and 24 first place votes.  Following UMES, Hampton received a total of 216 points and a first place vote to finish second in the preseason poll.  The two teams were followed by Morgan State (203 points, one first place vote), Norfolk State (184), DSU, Howard (141) and Coppin State (123).

Also for the third consecutive season, Florida A&M was voted to finish first in the southern division with 293 points and 20 first place votes.  South Carolina State finished in second place with 230 point and five first place votes while Bethune-Cookman was voted third with 218 points and one first place vote.  The trio was followed by North Carolina Central (186), North Carolina A&T (159) and Savannah State (136).

The 2011 MEAC Rookie of the Year and UMES outside hitter Saitaua Iosia was named the 2012 preseason Player of the Year. Joining Iosia with preseason honors is UMES sophomore teammate Jessica Vicic, FAMU senior Karol Marquez, Bethune-Cookman junior Krysta Gardner, South Carolina State junior Desire Waller and Norfolk State senior Charlotte Armstead.

The Hornets were without preseason player honors for the first time since the 2008 campaign.

For more information on DSU volleyball, please visit http://www.twitter.com/dsuvolleyball. 

2012 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish

(First Place Votes in Parenthesis)

Northern Division

1.         Maryland Eastern Shore (24)        306 points

2.         Hampton (1)                                      216 points

3.         Morgan State (1)                              203 points

4.         Norfolk State                                     184 points

5.         Delaware State                                144 points

6.         Howard                                              141 points

7.         Coppin State                                     123 points

Southern Division

1.         Florida A&M (20)                              293 points

2.         South Carolina State (5)                 230 points

3.         Bethune-Cookman (1)                    218 points

4.         North Carolina Central                   186 points

5.         North Carolina A&T                         159 points

6.         Savannah State                               136 points

2012 MEAC Volleyball Preseason Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Saitaua Iosia, Maryland Eastern Shore