FAMU volleyball begins quest to reclaim MEAC crown

The FAMU volleyball team will begin its quest to reclaim the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) crown tomorrow during the championship tournament in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Lady Rattlers went 9-1 in the conference this year to capture their fifth consecutive South Division title and a top seed in the tourney.

FAMU won nine straight MEAC championship titles from 2000 to 2009. It has claimed 13 conference championships, overall. Coach Tony Trifonov says the team's goal is to bring the MEAC trophy back home to Tallahassee and, just as importantly, represent FAMU in the national championship race.

"It's keeping the tradition, the proud tradition at Florida A&M," Trifonov told The FAMUan. "Another championship means another trip to the NCAA tournament."

Defending MEAC champion South Carolina State (8-2) captured the second seed in the southern division. Bethune-Cookman (6-4) earned the third seed and North Carolina Central (5-5) rounded out the fourth and final seed.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks claimed the second top seed in the tournament by finishing their season with an unblemished 12-0 mark in conference play en route to their fifth consecutive MEAC northern divisional title. UMES recorded over 20 victories for the fifth straight year and concluded the regular season on a 15 match win streak.