FAMU closed out it's perfect MEAC record with a 3-0 shutout of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Sunday in Daytona Beach, FL. Freshman Yeisha Arcia, led the Lady Rattlers with 12 kills in the match. Katherine Huanec carded 11 kills to round out the duo of double-digit scorers. FAMU used a balanced scoring attack as six different players scored in the game.
Diana Gonzales continued her hot streak with 35 assists in the match. All-MEAC defender Karol Marquez scooped out 20 digs, while Arcia scored seven. Four other Lady Rattlers got four digs apiece.
The balanced scoring of the team will bode well in the MEAC tournament. During the last two years, inconsistency in setting and limited scoring options had been the weakness of the team. Head Coach Tony Trifonov addressed those issues in bringing in Gonzales, who is playing her first healthy season and Arcia, a big outside hitter. With seniors Maria Ceccarelli and Pamela Barrera bolstering their scoring this year, and the resurgence of Katherine Huanec, the team should have the tools to make a run at the MEAC title.
The defending champion UMES Lady Hawks will take the top spot int he northern division with an 11-1 mark. This marks the sixth consecutive northern division title, as the Lady Hawks won nine of their last 10 matches.
South Carolina State will be the second seed in the southern division. North Carolina Central will be the third seed and Bethune-Cookman will round out the seeds at number four.
In the northern division, Norfolk State will be the second seed. Hampton is the third seed. Coppin State, the tournament's host, earned its first tournament appearance since 2006.
The MEAC volleyball championship tournament will take place on the campus of Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD. The championship game will be streamed on the conference's website at 12 noon on Sunday.