BALTIMORE – The Coppin State volleyball team has two reasons to be hyped this week.
The first is the players are excited to begin their quest for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship when Coppin State visits Norfolk State and Hampton this weekend. They are pumped and it showed as players had an extra few bounces in their steps during Tuesday's practice.
"We finally get to play the teams we've been waiting to play the entire year," Coppin State senior
Cindy Okpegbue said. "Our out of conference schedule really prepared us for our MEAC matches. We played some high-level programs and us being able to hang with them, just shows how much we have to offer."
SecondLY and more importantly, like most of America, the Lady Eagles have also looked forward with enthusiasm to the season premiere of the hit television show "Empire." Many of the Coppin State players are huge fans of the acclaimed drama with the star-studded cast.
"I am so excited to watch," sophomore
Bailee Jackson said. "You have no idea. I am the number one fan. That's my show. Here we go. I am pumped."
Featuring its own set of headliners, Coppin State plays Norfolk State Friday night at 6:00 p.m. and Hampton Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Fans can follow live stats of both games this weekend. It'll be the first MEAC games for first-year head coach
Kyetta May.
Coppin State will be rolling into the Tidewater area full of confidence gained from winning two of three matches last weekend at the Saint Francis Red Flash Classic. The Lady Eagles have won three of their last five matches.
"We're really hyped with having two wins (from last weekend) heading into this weekend," Jackson said during practice Tuesday afternoon. "Conference play is the best part of the season and lots of fun."
Okpegbue was named MEAC Volleyball Player of the Week after averaging a double-double of 14.0 kills and 12.3 digs during three matches at the Red Flash Classic last weekend and earning all-tournament honors.
A preseason All-MEAC selection, Okpegbue has posted double-doubles in four of her last five matches. She is third in points per set (3.68) and fourth in kills per set (3.29).
The Lady Eagles are far from one-dimensional as they have had at least four others players finish with double-digit kills in a match this season:
Kendra Ireigbe,
Samantha Polk,
Bailee Jackson and
Denali Sturgeon. Coppin State is third as a team in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.169).
Ireigbe has been a ruthlessly efficient silent force this season much like Lucious Lyon's character on Empire. She leads the MEAC in hitting percentage (.289) and is second in blocks per set (1.08). The balanced Eagles have also received sterling efforts from senior setter
Chelsee Sauni, who also earned all-tournament honors at the Red Flash Classic, and sophomore libero Glory Rosado.
Sauni is fourth in the conference in assists per set (8.53). With Rosado's consistently excellent performances, Coppin State is third in the MEAC as a team in digs per set (14.18). Rosado is second in the conference in digs per set (4.53). She had a career-high 26 digs against Saint Francis.
"I am looking forward to seeing the style of play of our conference opponents versus our non-conference ones," May said. "Coming from the SWAC to MEAC, I am interested in seeing if the styles are similar or difference in two. We are excited and looking forward to start conference play strong."
Here's a brief look at this weekend's opponents:
NORFOLK STATE: The Spartans only victory of the season was a 3-2 victory over Alabama State. They have been fueled this season by the tandem of Angie Darcus and Darcy Moore. Darcus is eighth in the MEAC in points per set (3.27) and ninth in kills per game (2.88). Moore is seventh in the conference in the assists per set (7.45). She also has six double-doubles, which is second in the MEAC. Dominique Parker is ninth in the MEAC in aces per set (0.30) and Alex Irizarry is 10th in digs per set (3.14). The Eagles beat Norfolk State twice last season. The Spartans will visit Coppin State on Friday, October 23.
HAMPTON: The reigning MEAC Tournament champions lost three matches last weekend at the North Carolina State tournament. Lena Washington earned all-tournament honors for the Lady Pirates. Washington and Reeana Richardson each had nine kills to lead the Lady Pirates against Campbell. Richardson leads Hampton with 111 kills while senior Allysa Medina, who mostly played libero last season, is second on the team with 86 kills. She also leads Hampton with 99 digs. The tandem of Brianna Lilly and Alexandra Erhart has combined for 293 assists. Hampton visits Coppin State on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Following this weekend trip, Coppin State begins its home schedule by hosting MEAC preseason favorite Howard University on Sunday, Oct. 4.
