LEXINGTON, Ky. – Coppin State's
TaKenya Stafford has been named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-East Coast Region selection, it was announced by the organization on Tuesday morning. This is the first time that Stafford has earned All-Region honors and she becomes just the third CSU player to earn the honor joining Ashley Roman (2020) and Miajavon Coleman (2021).
A redshirt senior from Los Angeles, Calif., Stafford was the MEAC Player of the Year and led the Eagles to a conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance after earning Most Outstanding Performer honors at the MEAC Tournament. Stafford led the league with 22 double-doubles and broke Coppin single-season records for kills (491) and points (550.0) while hitting .220 and adding 355 digs (2.63/set), 44 blocks (0.33/set) and 35 aces (0.26). She was one of just two players in the league to be ranked in both kills and digs, both of whom were CSU players, and set career-highs in every statistical category.
Stafford tallied double-digit kills in 31 of 35 matches and put up at least 20 kills in four contests. Her season-high came in a road win at Howard on September 26 where she slammed 25 kills on .220 hitting with 11 digs and a season-high four blocks. Stafford also had 21 kills in matches at George Mason, NC Central and Liberty, posting double doubles in all three of those games as well.
Despite playing just three seasons at Coppin, Stafford solidified herself as one of the top players in CSU history. A two-time MEAC Tournament MVP, Stafford was a three-time First Team All-MEAC selection, ranks second all-time at Coppin with 1,270 kills and 1,406.0 total points while placing eighth with 972 digs. She also ranks second in kills/set (3.51) and attempts (3,506) and ninth in hitting percentage (.224). Stafford also added 72 aces and 118 blocks for the Navy & Gold.
For her collegiate career, Stafford recorded 1,346 kills on .216 hitting to go with 1,089 digs, 77 aces and 127 total blocks for 1,492.0 total points. A 6-rotation player, Stafford totaled 52 double-doubles in 116 collegiate matches.
CSU finished the season at 23-12 overall after winning the MEAC Regular Season (13-1) and Tournament Title. It was the program's fourth regular season title and second MEAC Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament appearance, all of which have come this decade.
