BALTIMORE – The Coppin State volleyball team is traveling across the majestic Bay Bridge and embracing the arduous challenge ahead of it this weekend when the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament commences Friday at Maryland Eastern Shore's Hytche Athletic Center.
Despite entering as fourth seed from the Northern Division and losing three players to season-ending injuries, the Lady Eagles (9-14 overall) believe they have all the pieces to enjoy a long weekend in Princess Anne. The players don't view themselves as any type of underdog when they play against Southern Division champion Bethune-Cookman (13-15) Friday at 4:00 p.m. in the MEAC quarterfinals.
With a squad featuring 2015 MEAC Player of the Year
Cindy Okpegbue and first-team selection
Chelsee Sauni, Coppin State didn't win a trip to the MEAC Tournament in a raffle. Sophomore
Bailee Jackson, sophomore Glory Rosado and freshman
Samantha Polk have all enjoyed big moments this season for Coppin State.
The Lady Eagles are part of the MEAC's postseason party for the fourth consecutive season because they are good and gifted.
"We don't think of ourselves as underdogs because we believe we can compete with any team in the tournament," Jackson said. "We're just as good as any team in the MEAC. I know we don't have anything to lose. It's a new season and we're going to play our best. If you think we're an underdog, that's on you, but we don't think like that."
This will be the third straight year that the Lady Eagles will meet the Lady Wildcats in the MEAC quarterfinals. Coppin State has won the previous two meetings, including a pulsating 3-2 come-from-behind victory last season.
While the teams are familiar with one another, Coppin State understands that none of the previous meetings mean anything.
"I feel like we are ready," Okpegbue said. "We're going to go fight hard and focus on what we need to do as a team. We're going to have to work hard so we understand that. We're going to be prepared. Now that we're seniors, we know what to expect and how to approach situations."
Bethune-Cookman cleaned up on the postseason awards this season. The Wildcats led the MEAC this season with five all-conference players including first teamers Hazel Ortiz Rosado, Delicia Pierre and Rakaya Neely.
Phylecia Armstrong and Rhea Simon were each third team All-MEAC selections. Head coach Brittany Williams was named the conference coach of the year after leading the Wildcats to an undefeated Southern Division regular season record.
In her first season, she guided Bethune-Cookman to its first southern divisional title and regular-season sweep of interstate rival Florida A&M. The Wildcats rank first in the MEAC in blocks per set (2.28) and digs per set (15.17), and second in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.203), opponent hitting percentage (.180), assists per set (11.20) and kills per set (12.24).
Admission for the championship tournament is $9 each day and $21 for three-day passes.
The winner of this contest meets the survivor of the Morgan State-North Carolina A&T match in Saturday's second semifinal at 3:30 p.m.
The volleyball championship tournament will conclude on Sunday, November 22, beginning at noon and will telecast live on ESPN3 and tape-delayed on ESPNU.
For complete listing of winners, more information on the 2015 MEAC Volleyball Championship and for complete results, log on to
www.MEACsports.com"Anybody can be great at any specific time and our team is one of those teams," Sauni said. "If we go out and play our best, I am confident in our abilities. One down side that we have is that Bethune is a little more experienced than we are because they've had their core together for a longer period of time. We have three seniors and lots of young players. It's just a matter of us just fighting from the start of the match to the end."
