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[/insert_php]South Carolina State junior Desire Waller was named 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, the conference announced on Thursday.
North Carolina Central’s Christine Anthony earned Rookie of the Year honors while Florida A&M head coach Tony Trifonov was named Coach of the Year. All honors were voted on by the MEAC’s head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.
Waller, the reigning MEAC Volleyball Player of the Year, led the MEAC with 4.91 kills per set during her junior season. The junior ranked among the top ten in the conference in hitting percentage (.250), points (406), points per set (5.49), and kills (363). She concluded the regular season with eight 20-plus kill performances including a MEAC season-high 31 kills in a conference win over North Carolina Central. She added seven double-doubles on the season.
Anthony recorded 31 service aces, 233 digs, and 357 kills during her rookie season. She ranked among the top five in the conference in kills per set (3.68) and points per set (4.25). Anthony led the Lady Eagles’ in hitting percentage (.215), kills, points (412), and digs per set (2.40).
Under the tutelage of Trifonov, the Lady Rattlers recorded an unblemished 10-0 mark in MEAC southern divisional play and 12-10 record overall. In his 16th year at the helm, Florida A&M led the MEAC in kills per set (12.74), digs per set (14.00) and was among the top five in the conference in hitting percentage and assists. This is the fifth time that Trifonov has earned Coach of the Year accolades.
Joining Waller and Anthony on the 2012 All-MEAC First Team is Hampton’s Krista Kraskura, Maryland Eastern Shore’s Ndidi Ibe and Jessica Vicic. Ashley Johnson of North Carolina A&T rounds out the first-team honorees.
The MEAC Volleyball Championship tournament begins on Friday, November 16 at 10 a.m. The competition continues on Saturday with the semi-final matches scheduled at noon and 3:30 p.m.
2012 All-MEAC Volleyball Teams
Player of the Year: Desire Waller, South Carolina State
Rookie of the Year: Christine Anthony, North Carolina Central
Coach of the Year: Tony Trifonov, Florida A&M
First Team
Name Pos. Cl. School Hometown
Krista Kraskura OH So. Hampton Kuldiga, Latvia
Christine Anthony OH Sr. North Carolina Central Willemstad, Curacao
Desire Waller OH Jr. South Carolina State Houston, Texas
Ndidi Ibe MB Sr. Maryland Eastern Shore North Richland Hills, Texas
Jessica Vicic S So. Maryland Eastern Shore Cambridge, Ontario Canada
Ashley Johnson L Fr. North Carolina A&T Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Second Team
Name Pos. Cl. School Hometown
Krysta Gardner OH Jr. Bethune-Cookman Ashburn, Virginia
Yeisha Arcia OH r-Fr. Florida A&M San Juan, Puerto Rico
Charlotte Armstead OH Sr. Norfolk State Williamsburg, Va.
Pamela Barrera MB Sr. Florida A&M Lima, Peru
Bibiany Fonseca S Jr. Hampton Uberlandia, Brazil
Karol Marquez L Sr. Florida A&M Lima, Peru