A record 14 former Florida A&M University (FAMU) volleyball players were named to the all-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) 50th anniversary volleyball team. 

Nicole Abreau, Maria Andronova, Jovana Blazeski, Valentina Carrasco, Susan Egoavil, Shante’ Haymore, Adriana Kostadinova, Randi Lee, Ginna Lopez-Chavez, Anna Nicholson, Mariela Portocarrero, Marrita Royster-Crockett, Adriena Ruiz and Maria Yvette Garcia earned the conference honor. 

FAMU led the way with a record number of former players selected to the all-time MEAC 50th anniversary volleyball team, with Howard placing nine on the team. Morgan State (eight), Maryland Eastern Shore (six), North Carolina A&T State (four), South Carolina State (three), Coppin State (two), North Carolina Central (one), Bethune-Cookman (one), Delaware State (one) and Hampton (one) rounded out the all-time team. 

Abreau earned MEAC Co-Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 and was selected to the 2017 All-MEAC First Team. 

Andronova was named the 2005 MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer and the 2006 MEAC Player of the Year. In addition, she was a two-time (2005, 2006) All-MEAC First Team recipient.  

Blazeski had several accolades during her collegiate career including, 2007 MEAC Rookie of the Year, 2009 MEAC Player of the Year, 2009 MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer and two-time (2007, 2009) All-MEAC First Team. 

Carrasco garnered back-to-back (2017, 2018) All-MEAC First Team selections. 

Egoavil posted All-MEAC First Team selections in 2007 and 2009. 

Haymore was a two-time MEAC Player of the Year along with All-MEAC First Team in 2000 and 2001. In addition, she was tabbed the 2001 MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer. 

Kostadinova, who was inducted into the 2020 FAMU Sports Hall of Fame, had several accolades, including two-time MEAC Player of the Year (2004, 2005), three-time All-MEAC First Team (2003-2005) and three-time MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer (2002-2004). 

Lee posted All-MEAC First Team honors in 1993 and 1994. 

Lopez-Chavez was tabbed a three-time All-MEAC First Team selection from 2013-2016. 

Nicholson earned 1999 MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer and All-MEAC First Team. 

Portocarrero was a three-time All-MEAC First Team honoree (2001, 2003-2004). 

Royster-Crockett garnered 2006 MEAC Tournament Outstanding Performer and All-MEAC First Team honors. 

Ruiz tabbed All-MEAC First Team (2002-2004). 

Yvette Garcia was a three-time All-MEAC First Team selection (2016, 2018-19). 

To be considered on the ballot, players must have been named to one of the following: First Team All-MEAC, MEAC Player of the Year, AVCA All-American or All-Region or a MEAC Hall of Fame inductee. 

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla| The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has announced its scheduling model for fall sports to be played during the 2021 spring semester, contingent on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and NCAA scheduling guidelines for fall championships being played in the spring.

Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson, Ph.D and Vice President and Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha have provided statements regarding the MEAC’s decision to play fall sports during the spring 2021 semester: 

“We appreciate the MEAC’s forwarding thinking approach of laying out options for fall sports next spring,” said Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “The plan reflects the delicate balance of safeguarding the health of our student athletes while creating an opportunity for on the field competition, which is such an integral part of the college experience.” 

“We appreciate the MEAC for developing a comprehensive plan that would allow our student-athletes the opportunity to compete,” said Kortne Gosha, FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics. “COVID-19 has required our institutions to pivot and adjust to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes and respective campus communities. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to our fans, donors, season ticketholders, and campus community as the situations and further schedules develop. Our programs are still on a quest to win MEAC championships.”

MEAC Statement on Moving Fall Sports to Spring 2021 

NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has unveiled a scheduling model for how fall sports could be played in the spring 2021 semester, depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the NCAA scheduling guidelines for fall championships being played in the spring. Each individual institution can opt out of competing in the spring based on local and state COVID-19 conditions.

This action follows the conference’s announcement in July that the fall season would be suspended.

“Although it’s still too early to tell if the coronavirus conditions will improve fast enough to allow us to reconvene spring sports, we want to be prepared with a plan of action,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, President of Howard University and chair of the MEAC presidents and chancellors. 

Next spring, football teams will play a slate of six regional conference games, with teams split into divisions. The season would span from February 27 through April 24, with a championship game set for May 1. Volleyball season in the spring semester will potentially span from the first weekend of January through February, with the MEAC Volleyball Championship being held the weekend of March 13-14 in Norfolk, Va. The volleyball championship game will be played on Sunday, March 14. These dates are tentative and subject to change. Teams’ schedules will be available at a later date. 

A regional schedule will be implemented for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball and softball. In addition to keeping the mental and physical health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff at the forefront, this scheduling model will also minimize the amount of time student-athletes spend out of class, eliminate air travel and reduce travel expenses.

The divisional breakdown will be as follows: Northern Division: Coppin State, Delaware State, Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Norfolk State. Southern Division: Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State.   

“As has been the case since this pandemic started in March, the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, university staff and fans are paramount,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said. “I want to thank both the Forecasting Committee and the Health and Medical Advisory Group for their tireless efforts in formulating this plan.”

The MEAC Forecasting Committee, comprised of several of the conference’s Directors of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrators (SWAs), has been working since April – meeting twice a week to formulate a variety of plans for intercollegiate competition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Forecasting Committee has consulted with the MEAC Health and Medical Advisory Group, which is made up of the league’s team physicians and head athletics trainers. All options were considered, from a normal fall schedule to a modified fall schedule and moving the fall sports to the spring.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Florida A&M University Vice President and Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha released a statement on Thursday in regard to the suspension of the 2020 Fall Sports schedule.

As we face unprecedented and uncertain times, the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, and campus community remain our number one priority.

“The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Florida A&M University has elected to suspend all fall sports due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. While we are disappointed by the fact that we will not be competing this fall, we do believe this is in the best interest for our student-athletes and our institution,” Gosha said. “Please understand that this decision was not taken lightly. I am extremely confident that we will continue to work through these challenging times together.”

Florida A&M Athletics is committed to exploring creative approaches and alternatives to provide future competitive experiences and opportunities for our student-athletes.

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NORFOLK, Va. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has named Alelee Figueroa from Florida A&M University as the 2020 Woman of the Year, the conference office announced today.

The award, selected annually by the MEAC Senior Woman Administrators, celebrates the achievements of senior female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

“Congratulations to Alelee Figueroa for having a spectacular career, not only in track & field, but in her academic pursuits as well,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said. “In addition, her service to the community is truly exceptional. I would like to thank the Florida A&M University athletic staff, coaches, academic support personnel and Alelee’s family, who all had an influential part in her success. I wish her continued success in her future endeavors.”

Figueroa, from Orlando, Fla., won the MEAC championship in the hammer throw at the 2019 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships (50.42 meters; 165 feet, five inches), and she also won that event this past indoor season at the KMS Invitational. She was part of a Rattlers squad that won the 2018 MEAC women’s outdoor track & field championship, edging North Carolina A&T State by half a point.

Graduating this past May with a 3.90 GPA in Criminal Justice (concentration in Pre-Law Studies), Figueroa had the highest GPA in both the MS3 and MS4 classes of the Florida A&M Army ROTC Rattler Battalion. She was a Distinguished Scholar awardee in 2016, and Figueroa was named both a National Society of Collegiate Scholars inductee and a Nutrition L.E.A.D.S. Scholar in 2017.

In 2019, Figueroa was an IFPO Protection Officer Certification Awardee from the International Organization of Black Security Executives (IOBSE) and a recipient of the FAMU Army ROTC Rattler Battalion’s Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Award.

In addition to serving in the Army ROTC Rattler Battalion all four years, Figueroa was busy in the community. In 2017, she volunteered at the Wakulla County Community Center, tending to the community garden, cleaning and preparing harvested fruits and vegetables and promoting nutrition at community events. From 2018-20, she was a volunteer lead and pageant candidate with the Big Bend Filipino-American Association; not only did she coordinate all community outreach events and fundraise for the Bantay Bata charity, she also represented Tallahassee, Fla. in the annual national pageant.

Figueroa was an S-2 Expansion and security officer for the National Society of Pershing Angels Sorority, Inc. in 2019, managing security clearance issues and providing both intelligence oversight and physical security. She was an S-3 Operations and Training Officer this year, on top of serving as Vice President of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, FAMU Pre-Law Chapter (which she helped re-charter), and HBCU for Life Committee Co-Chair for the Beta Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Figueroa will represent the MEAC as its nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. The NCAA established this award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 29^th year, the award is unique because it recognizes not only the athletic achievements of outstanding young women, but also their academic achievements, community service and leadership.

The NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 1 at the awards dinner in Indianapolis, Ind.

Delaware State’s Alexis Neuer (bowling) was the 2020 MEAC Woman of the Year runner-up. She graduated with a degree in Physics and Electrical Engineering with a 3.97 GPA.

MEAC Woman of the Year Honorees

2006       Renecia Lovelace, North Carolina A&T State (Softball)
2007       Courtney Smiley, Howard (Basketball)
2008       Jessica Worsley, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2009       Loreal Smith, North Carolina A&T State (Track and Field)
2010       Kalyn Washburn, Delaware State (Bowling)
2011       Kristina Frahm, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2012       Jazmyne Hefflefinger, Delaware State (Bowling)
2013       T’nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2014       Christina Epps, Coppin State (Track and Field)
2015       Mariana Alvarado Nava, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2016       Jenny Tracy, North Carolina Central (Softball)
2017       Thashaina Seraus, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2018       Lyndsey Edwards, Bethune-Cookman (Basketball)
2019       Damali Young, Morgan State (Softball)
2020       Alelee Figueroa, Florida A&M (Track and Field)

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