NORFOLK, Va. – Coppin State's
Cherisse Atilano has been named the MEAC Volleyball Rookie of the Week for the third time this season, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. Atilano previously won the awards in back-to-back weeks on October 13 and October 20 and is also the only freshman this season to receive a Player of the Week award.
A freshman from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Atilano averaged 2.67 kills/set on .254 hitting and 3.11 digs/set with four aces and a pair of double-doubles in Coppin's two wins over the weekend. Atilano put up 13 kills on .393 hitting to go with 16 digs and three aces in a victory over Maryland Eastern Shore which clinched the Eagles' fourth MEAC Regular Season Title this decade. Two days later, she put up 11 kills and 12 digs in Coppin's comeback victory at Delaware State.
Atilano is one of two players in the MEAC, both of whom are CSU player, to rank in the top ten in both kills and digs. She ranks eighth with 2.82 kills/set and seventh with 2.65 digs/set and 3.28 points/set. Her 41 service aces lead the league and she ranks second to her teammate
TaKenya Stafford with 13 double-doubles.
In MEAC play, she ranks first in aces (23), third in service aces/set (0.46), fifth in digs/set (3.24), seventh in both kills/set (3.04) and points/set (3.58) and ninth in hitting percentage (.269).
The Eagles have wrapped up the top seed in next weekend's MEAC Tournament (Nov. 20-22) and close out the regular season against crosstown rival Morgan State at 6 pm on Friday, November 14 at PEC Arena.
