NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 14, 2017—Florida A&M's Candelaria Herrera was named the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
Herrera led the MEAC in hitting percentage at .380 and digs with 4.53 per set in her freshman season, leading the Lady Rattlers to a 9-1 record in conference play and a share of the Southern Division regular-season title. Her 0.91 blocks per set ranked fifth in the conference, and her 3.55 points per set also ranked eighth. Herrera was a five-time MEAC Rookie of the Week this season, and she was also a First Team All-MEAC selection.
Joining Herrera on the All-MEAC First Team from Florida A&M are Nicole Abreu and Valentina Carrasco. Outside Maria Yvett Garcia was a second team selection.
Herrera was also voted to the seven-member MEAC All-Rookie Team.
The 2017 MEAC Volleyball Championship begins Friday with the quarterfinal round; the first match is set to begin at 10 a.m. featuring Southern Division #2 Seed FAMU against North #3 Seed Morgan State.
Saturday's semifinal matches will start at 12 p.m., and Sunday's championship finale will start at 12 p.m. and be shown live on ESPNU and ESPN3.
For more information on the 2017 MEAC Volleyball Championship, including bracket and full schedule, visit www.MEACsports.com.
2017 MEAC Volleyball Postseason Honors
Voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
Player of the Year: Khaila Donaldson, Howard
Rookie of the Year: Candelaria Herrera, Florida A&M
Coach of the Year: Toby Rens, Maryland Eastern Shore
FIRST TEAM
Name Pos. Class Ht. School Hometown
Khaila Donaldson OH Sr. 5-11 Howard Vernon Hills, Ill.
Iva Vujosevic OH So. 5-11 Maryland E. Shore Bar, Montenegro
Rakaya Neely MB Sr. 6-1 Bethune-Cookman Lake Wales, Fla.
Phalen Clark S Sr. 5-10 Bethune-Cookman Baton Rouge, La.
Nicole Abreu OH So. 6-0 Florida A&M Lima, Peru
Candelaria Herrera MB Fr. 6-1 Florida A&M San Juan, Argentina
Valentina Carrasco L Jr. 5-6 Florida A&M Lima, Peru
SECOND TEAM
Name Pos. Class Ht. School Hometown
Tamia Dockery S Jr. 5-8 Howard Richmond, Texas
Lucia Babic OH Jr. 5-10 Maryland E. Shore Sisak, Croatia
Reeana Richardson OH Jr. 5-10 Hampton Ellicott City, Md.
Jessica Young OH Sr. 5-11 Howard Mesa, Ariz.
Alondra Bautista OH Sr. 5-10 Bethune-Cookman Carolina, Puerto Rico
Maria Yvett Garcia OH S. 6-1 Florida A&M Santo Domingo, D.R.
Rechez Lindsay L Sr. 5-7 Bethune-Cookman Diego Martin, Trin. & Tobago
ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Name Pos. Class Ht. School Hometown
Candelaria Herrera MB Fr. 6-1 Florida A&M San Juan, Argentina
Jordan Jefferson OH Fr. 5-8 Bethune-Cookman San Antonio, Texas
Faith Landreneaux MB Fr. 5-10 Bethune-Cookman Carthage, Texas
Edie Brewer S/RS Fr. 6-0 N.C. A&T State West Chester, Ohio
Alexus Holt OH Fr. 6-1 S.C. State Marietta, Ga.
Courteney Pitt OH Fr. 6-1 N.C. A&T State Farmville, N.C.
Lena Reed-Petracek S Fr. 5-11 Hampton Alameda, Calif.
