NNOORRFFOOLLKK SSTTAATTEE UNNIIVVEERRSIITY VOLLLEYYBALL

Bottom Row (kneeling, left to right): Solange Honore, Aurelia Isham , Jourdan Ellison, Nicole Kessner

Back Row (Standing, left to right): Volunteer Assistant Coach Brandon Duvall, Angie Clewis, Breanna Allums, Paige Gary-Canty, Elayne Greer, Shardonay Blueford, Yolanda Roberts, Graduate Assistant Coach Jami Hester, Head Coach Jennifer Fry “We Believe”

2008 MEDIA GUIDE PROFILE

NSU: The Promise of a Quality Education For more than seventy -two years , Norfolk State University has provided an atmosphere in which the youth of the region could acquire a quality and affordable education. Norfolk State University has been a beacon of hope for high graduates from all socio-economic backgrounds seeking a college degree.

The mission of Norfolk State University is to provide an affordable The mission of the Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work is to high-quality education for an ethnically and culturally diverse provide social work education programs which prepare students with population, equipping each student with the capability to become the competence to develop and deliver services that strengthen productive citizens who continually contribute to a global and rapidly and/or empower individuals, families, groups, organizations, and changing society. communities. The school and its program emphasize the values of social justice, social responsibility and respect for human rights, The promise of a quality education at Norfolk State University dignity and diversity. The school is especially committed to involves powerful learning environments, relevant programs in high addressing the strengths and challenges for an ethnically and demand areas, forward-thinking instruction, opportunities that culturally diverse client population in an evolving global community. enhance learning, and high-tech, high-touch student-focused services. The faculty and administrators are among the most qualified, experienced, and diverse professionals in the country. Norfolk State University is accredited by the Commission on Col - They demonstrate the highest competencies of accountability, leges of the Southern Association of Colleges and to leadership, communication, responsiveness/customer care, award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. decision-making, critical thinking, innovation, integrity/ethical Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, De - behavior, and business mindedness. catur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Norfolk State University .

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY HAS FIVE ACADEMIC Located near some of the world’s most breathtaking waterfronts SCHOOLS. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: and coastlines, Norfolk State University’s 134 -acre campus is The School of Business prepares students for careers in all types located in southeastern in the City of Norfolk and close to of organizations and for continued academic study. This is ac - the shores of Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Nor - complished in a learner-centered community that promotes ac - folk State’s heritage is an historic part of what makes Norfolk ademic achievement, professional growth, and recognition of the great! importance of diversity, technology, globalization, and ethics in the workplace and society. The faculty is engaged in intellectual contri - butions and professional development to remain current in their NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY teaching fields and to promote student success and is committed to University and community service. QUICK FACTS The School of Education is responsible for providing leadership, Location: Historic Norfolk, Va.; 134-acre campus 2 miles coordination, and evaluation of all teacher education programs at from downtown Norfolk the University. Its central purpose is to provide pre-service and Extended in-service educational programs to prospective teachers, in-service Campus Center: Virginia Beach Higher Education Center teachers, administrators and others engaged in educational History: • Founded in 1935 as the Norfolk Unit activities in other agencies. of Virginia Union University • Became the independent Norfolk The mission of the School of Liberal is to develop analytical, Polytechnic College in 1942 skilled, and competent professionals who will become productive • Became an independent institution in 1969 citizens in today’s society, and to offer academic programs that • Granted University status in 1979 facilitate learning consistent with changing employment opportunities Enrollment: Approximately 6,200 and life experiences in a global society. President: Carolyn Winstead Meyers, Ph.D. The strategic mission of the School of and Technology is Faculty: 300 + full-time equivalent to transform Norfolk State University into a “Science and Tech - Degree Offerings: 2 associate degrees; 32 bachelor’s degrees; nology Powerhouse .” In keeping with this mission, there are a num - 16 master’s degrees; 2 doctoral degrees ber of significant initiatives underway to expand and enhance Athletics: 15 intercollegiate teams (Division I; competing academic programs across all academic departments in the school. in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – MEAC) Initiatives include web-enhancements for the courses deemed Student critical for student success — the gateway courses. Additional Organizations: 125 scholarships, mentoring, and other special programs Website: www.nsu.edu are available to assist students.

For more information on Norfolk State University , its academic programs and community service projects, research, campus facilities, and other amenities, please call the Office of Communications and Marketing at (757) 823-8373. 2008 Norfolk State University Quick Facts Table of Contents University Information Location : Norfolk, Va. Table of Contents ...... 1 Founded : 1935 Athletics Department Directory ...... 2 Enrollment : 6,200 Mascot : Spartans Head Coach Jennifer Fry ...... 3 School Colors : Green & Gold Affiliation : NCAA Division I Graduate Assistant Coach Jami Hester ...... 4 Conference : Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Volunteer Assistant Coach Brandon Duvall . . . . . 5 (MEAC) Home Arena : Echols Hall Season Outlook ...... 6 Capacity : 7,000 President : Carolyn W . Meyers, Ph.D. 2008 Rosters ...... 8 Athletics Director : Marty L. Miller Athletics Phone : (757) 823-8152 Returning Players ...... 9 Athletics Fax : (757) 823-2566 Newcomers ...... 12 Ticket Office : (757) 823-9009 2007 Season Statistics ...... 15 NSU Athletics Highlights ...... 16 Coaching Staff ...... 18 Head Coach : Jennifer Fry (Montevallo ’02) NSU Administration Record at NSU : 7-26 Athletics Administration ...... 20 Career Record : Same Graduate Assistant Coach : Jami Hester NSU Athletics Foundation ...... 22 (Mississippi State ’06) Office Phone : (757) 823-2804 The MEAC ...... 23 Office Fax : (757) 823-2566 Records ...... 24

Team Information 2007 Overall Record : 7-26 2006 MEAC Record/Finish : 3-5/4 th Southern Division Letterwinners Returning/Lost : 3/4 Starters Returning/Lost: 3/4 (includes libero) Key Returnees Sr. OH Yolanda Roberts (Per-Game Averages) : (2. 12 kills, 2.60 digs), Sr. MH Shardonay Blueford (1.89 kills, 2.49 digs), Jr. S Solange Honore (7.87 assists, 2.26 digs )

Sports Information SID : Matt Michalec Phone : (757) 823-2628 Fax : (757) 823-8218 Email : [email protected] Volleyball Contact : Karen M. Carty Phone : (757) 823-2628 The 2008 Women’s Volleyball Media Guide was written, edited and Fax : (757) 823-8218 produced by the NSU Sports Information Office, director Matt Michalec Email : [email protected] and assistant Karen M. Carty. Editorial assistance was provided by Mailing Address : NSU Office of Sports Information, Craig Cotton and Marty Miller. 700 Park Ave., Norfolk, VA 23504 Photography was provided by Dominion Photography, Mark’s Digital Website : www.nsuspartans.com Photography, NSU Marketing Services and 2nd Chance Productions. Printing services were provided by Signature Printing of Norfolk, VA.

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 1 ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY

Athletics Directory ...... (Area Code 757) Administration and Support Staff Director of Athletics: Marty Miller ...... 823-8152 Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Delanyard Robinson ...... 823-8993 Assoc. AD for Internal Operations: Dr. Emma Best ...... 823-2105 Assoc. AD for External Operations/NSUAF Executive Director: Craig Cotton ...... 823-2667 Asst. AD for Compliance : Alisha Tucker ...... 823-2337 Asst. AD for Sports : Mitch Callis ...... 823-9547/8997 Asst. AD for Business Operations: Sherie Cornish ...... 823-8404 Athletic Trainer: Meghan Antinarelli ...... 823-9547/8997 Sports Information Director: Matt Michalec ...... 823-2628 Asst. Sports Information Director: Karen M. Carty ...... 823-2628 Administrative Specialist: Shirley Whitaker ...... 823-8152 Strength and Conditioning Coach: Reese Bridgman ...... 823-8152 Athletics Academic Coordinator: Jacqueline Nicholson ...... 823-8751 NSUAF Administrative Specialist/Marketing Assistant : TBA ...... 823-2517 Facilities Coordinator: Nathaniel Warren ...... 823-8821 Equipment Manager: William Wright ...... 823-2022 Asst. Equipment Manager: Nate Bell ...... 823-2022 Cheerleading Coach: Carmen Harris ...... 823-8200 Administrative Specialist/Football: Shirley Brooks ...... 823-8824 Men’s Coaches : Claudell Clark, Head Coach ...... 823-8196 Asst. Coaches: A.J. Corbin, Quentin Jones ...... 823-9533 : Anthony Evans, Head Coach ...... 823-8934 Asst. Coaches : Robert Jones, Larry Vickers ...... 823-9192/2840 Cross Country: Kenneth Giles, Head Coach ...... 823-8169 Asst. Coaches: Wycliffe Rotich ...... 823-8169 Football: , Head Coach ...... 823-8824 Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Line: Rod Holder ...... 823-8779 Asst. Coach/Passing Game Coordinator: Jeff Parker ...... 823-2570 Asst. Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Kirk Mastromatteo ...... 823-8533 Asst. Coach/Defensive Coordinator: Mark DeBastiani ...... 823-2582 Asst. Coach/Defensive Backs: Marco Butler ...... 823-2495 Asst. Coach/Defensive Line: Mark Thurston ...... 823-8758 Asst. Coach/Asst. Linebackers: Vince Sinagra ...... 823-8824 Asst. Coach/Tight Ends: Steve Canter ...... 823-8824 Asst. Coach/Asst. Receivers & Tight Ends: Curtis Williams ...... 823-8824 Asst. Coach/Asst. Defensive Backs: Lorenzo High ...... 823-8824 Tennis: Nathaniel Warren, Head Coach ...... 823-8821 Asst. Coach: Lewis Turner ...... 823-8821 Track and Field: Kenneth Giles, Head Coach ...... 823-8801 Asst. Coaches: Malcolm Watts / Wycliffe Rotich/Brandon Tynes ...... 823-8801 Women’s Coaches Basketball: Tara A. Owens, Head Coach ...... 823-8441 Asst. Coaches: Malikah Willis , TBA ...... 823-8456/2132 Bowling: Wilhelmenia Harrison, Head Coach ...... 823-2105 Asst. Coach: Aundray Darden ...... 823-2105 Cross Country: Ronda Berard, Head Coach ...... 823-2104 Asst. Coach: Marvin Ricks/Harry Freeman ...... 823-2104 Softball: Kary Kankey, Head Coach ...... 823-2118 Asst. Coach: Heidi Cavallo ...... 823-8343 Tennis: Nathaniel Warren, Head Coach ...... 823-8821 Asst. Coach: Lewis Turner ...... 823-8821 Track and Field: Ronda Berard, Head Coach ...... 823-2104 Asst. Coaches: Marvin Ricks/Serge Bengono/Harry Freeman ...... 823-2104 Volleyball: Jennifer Fry, Head Coach ...... 823-2804 Graduate Asst.: Jami Hester ...... 823-2804 Miscellaneous Football Press Box ...... 823-2628 Basketball Press Row ...... 823-8195 Softball Press Box ...... 823-0056 Baseball Press Box ...... 823-8196 Ticket Office ...... 823-9009

2 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM HEAD COACH JENNIFER FRY

Prior to her playing days at Montevallo, Fry played two seasons at Arizona Western College, where she garnered all-conference accolades in 1999. Her squad was ranked both years at AWC, including a ranking as high as No. 10 in 1999.

Fry earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mon - tevallo in 2002 and her master’s in criminal justice from Tiffin University (Ohio) in 2004. While at Tiffin, Fry also served as a graduate assistant volleyball coach for the 2002 and 2003 seasons . Fry currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia .

Jennifer Fry Head Women’s Volleyball Coach

Jennifer Fry enters her second year as the head women’s volleyball coach at Norfolk State University .

Under Fry’s leadership in 2007, the Spartans qualified for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time since 2004 when all 11 teams made it to the tournament. The 2007 squad also went 3-5 in MEAC play, snapping a 31- conference-match losing streak that dated back to the 2003 season.

Before coming to NSU, Fry served as an assistant coach at Division II Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas during the 2006 season. Fry assisted in all administrative and coaching aspects of the Rambelles volleyball program and also tutored two all-conference players at ASU.

Fry, a native of Yuma, Ariz., served as an assistant coach at Seward County Community College (Kan.) in 2005. She coached four all-conference performers while helping lead the Saints to a top- 15 ranking in 2005.

A 2002 graduate of the University of Montevallo (Ala.), Fry earned All-Gulf South Conference honors in 2000. She helped the Falcons to a No. 24 national ranking in Division II during her junior year.

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 3 GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACH JAMI HESTER

Jami Hester enters her first year as a graduate assistant coach with the volleyball team.

Previously, Hester was an assistant coach during the 2007 season at Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Ill., helping the team to a 23-12 overall record. Her duties included coaching the sopho - mores , scouting opponent teams and planning and coordinating team practices. She also spent time as a sub stitute teacher in the Rock Island school district and taught music at Rock Island Primary Acad - emy.

Hester served as an assistant coach with QC Platform Elite Volleyball Club in Davenport, Iowa from January to July 2008 where she worked with the 16 year-old team. She coached at several summer camps, in - cluding the Rock Island and As sumption High School camps (2007), the Iowa High Performance Camp (2008) and at Augustana Jami Hester College (2008) in Rock Island, Ill. with her sister and head coach, Graduate Assistant Coach Janelle.

Hester earned her bachelor ’s degree in physical education with a con - centration in clinical exercise physiology from Mississippi State in 2006. A member on the Bulldogs’ volleyball team, Hester made the MSU ath - letic honor roll in 2003 and 2004 and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) academic honor roll in 2004. She was also named to the Quality Inn Tiger Invitational All-Tournament team in 2004.

Hester had a stellar high school career at Davenport Central High School in Davenport, Iowa. As a senior in 2001, she led the DCHS Blue Devils to a 32-4 record and a No. 2 final ranking in Iowa, while averag - ing 4.54 kills and 3.16 digs per game. She earned second-team all- state honors in 2001 and was named the Mississippi Athletic Conference Player of the Year her junior and senior years .

Hester lettered in basketball, softball and track at DCHS and played club volleyball in Iowa with several area club teams, including Dubuque Courtmasters, Iowa and Mississippi Valley.

Hester is currently pursuing her master ’s degree in counseling.

4 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH BRANDON DUVALL

Brandon Duvall enters his first year as a volunteer assistant with the NSU volleyball program.

Previously, Duvall was an assistant at Virginia Wesleyan College in 2006 where he helped the women’s team to a 19-9 overall record and a third-place finish in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tourna - ment . Prior to VWC, Duvall was the assistant boys volleyball coach at in Chesapeake, Va. from 2003-2006. He helped the Wildcats to the 2004 and 2005 Southeastern District regu - lar-season titles. Duvall also had assisting stints with the girls teams at Ocean Lakes High School (1998) and (2002), and served as the girls head coach at Ocean Lakes in 1999.

Duvall has also worked with the Coastal Virginia Volleyball Club as an assistant under Great Bridge boys coach Dave Albaugh. Duvall has been the assistant for the nationally ranked girls’ 18-and-under team Brandon Duvall since 2003 and was the head coach of the 15-and-under girls team Volunteer Assistant Coach from 2006-2007. As an assistant, Duvall handles the travel arrange - ments, conducts practices and does individual skills work with mem - bers of the 18-and-under team. He worked with the Tidewater Volleyball Club from 2001-2003, assisting with the girls 18- and-under team and leading the 15-and-under team .

Duvall graduated from in 1998 with a bache - lor ’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. While at ODU, he was the de - fensive specialist on the club team. Duvall continues to play in several indoor and outdoor competitions and participates in both men ’s and co-ed matches at the open level.

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 5 SEASON OUTLOOK

Youth the Order of the Day for the 2008 NSU Volleyball Team When head volleyball coach Jennifer Fry accepted her position The team also accomplished the following in 2007: at Norfolk State University in March of 2007, she never expected • Winning its first MEAC match since the 2003 season with that she would have to play her second season with a team com - a 3-0 victory at South Carolina State on October 2 . prised of six true freshmen, two junior college transfers and just • Advancing to the MEAC Tournament for the first time since three returnees. But such is the case heading into the 2008 season. the 2004 season when the current eight-team format “Bringing in so many new players in one season into a Division I was adopted. program is very rare, but I am really excited to work with the entire • Completing the season sweep of South Carolina State in team this year,” Fry said. “They are all great volleyball players, but MEAC play and finishing the season with a 4-8 more importantly , they are people of strong character who under - conference record. stand the importance of education and commitment.” The Spartans ended the season with seven players who could Fry will have help on the sidelines this year as she welcomes have returned to play this year, but in the off-season, the number of graduate assistant Jami Hester and volunteer assistant Brandon returnees dropped down to three. Leading the trio is senior outside Duvall . Hester, a former standout player at Mississippi State, joins hitter Yolanda Roberts . Roberts paced the team with 220 kills and the coaching staff after a one-year stint at Rock Island High School 2.12 kills per game in 2007 and leads the returning players in kills, in Rock Island, Ill. Duvall , a mainstay on the vol - hitting percentage (.098), digs (270), solo blocks (8) and total leyball scene, brings a wealth of club and high school coaching ex - blocks (30). perience to the Spartans . “Yolanda has been on the court consistently for the last three In 2007, Fry and her team overcame several obstacles to make years which gives her the game experience and maturity that the the year a memorable one. Despite the team’s 7-26 overall record incoming outside hitters lack,” Fry said. “She also has natural lead - and other challenges during the season, the players learned valu - ership qualities that her teammates will gravitate toward.” able lessons and proved to everyone that they had what it took to The other senior returning for the Spartans is outside hitter play on this level . Shardonay Blueford . Blueford saw an expanded role last season, playing in all 104 games after playing in a total of 31 games in her first two seasons with the team. Named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2007, Blueford tallied 197 kills ( 1.89 per game) and 259 digs ( 2.49 per game ). “Shardonay has definitely improved her game tenfold since I got here,” Fry said. “If she comes back from summer in great shape and ready to play, she could see some time on the floor.” Junior setter Solange Honore , NSU’s all-time career leader in assists, rounds out the returnees. In just two seasons, she has climbed to the top of assist list, and now has 1,579 assists to her credit after passing out a team-high 818 in 2007. Last season, she ranked sixth in the MEAC in assists and averaged 7.9 per game. Honore hit .058 with 55 kills, 42 aces, 235 digs and 27 total blocks for the season, showing her ability to contribute beyond her setting duties. “Solange is a great player who has been the primary setter for the last two years, but who also loves to play defense,” Fry said. “She is very versatile and can be used as a setter, defensive specialist, or Yolanda Roberts libero. This season, I see her being on the court in some defensive capacity and possibly vying for our libero position.” Fry will have some options in the rotation of her lineup with the addition of three new outside hitters, two blockers , one middle hitter, one libero, and one setter. “The eight newcomers will play a huge role this season because at least three of them, if not more, will be on the court at one time,” Fry said. “We not only have a bench, but a bench of quality players who all truly have the opportunity to be on the court. These recruits will make the team more competitive because no position is solidified.” The Spartans will have two freshmen and one junior available for the outside hitter positions, in addition to Blueford . Those three new Shardonay Blueford

6 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM SEASON OUTLOOK

players are: Breanna Allums (Channelview, Tex./Channelview HS), Robinson, a two-year letterwinner and multi-sport athlete at Lan - Paige Gary-Canty (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor HS) and Au - caster, made the All-Golden League first team as a junior and sen - relia Isham (Lancaster, Tex./Mineral Area (Mo.) College ). ior and helped her team to the 2006 Golden League title and a Allums, a four-year letterwinner at Channelview , was a three-time runner-up finish in 2007 . all-district first team pick and will be counted on to make an imme - “Ashley is a highly athletic young lady who will be a huge blocker diate impact on the court. for us,” Fry said. “Once we have her trained in our system , the sky “Breanna has the ability to get off the floor exceptionally well and will be the limit for her. ” has a wealth of top -level club and high school volleyball experience,” Junior college transfer Angie Clewis (Glen Heights, Tex./ Mineral Fry said. Area (Mo.) College) will be one of the new middle hitters for the Gary-Canty was a two-sport athlete in high school who has good Spartans . Clewis earned National Junior College Athletic Associa - court awareness and versatility. tion (NJCAA) All-Region XVI second-team honors and was selected “Paige is a multifaceted volleyball player who played three differ - on the Mid-West Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) ent positions in high school and who has the tools to develop into a All-Conference team a sophomore in 2007 at MAC. great collegiate player.” “Angie will compete for playing time at one of the middle hitter Isham, a junior college transfer, is also very athletic and will add spots,” Fry said. “She is small in size at 5-9, but she is amazingly depth to the outside hitter position. quick and jumps very high.” “Aurelia is a solid outside hitter who brings energy, determination Jourdan Ellison (Houston, Tex./Clear Brook HS) should be the and decent ball control to the court,” said Fry. “She is strong and has starting libero on opening day. Ellison helped Clear Brook to con - good leaping ability .” secutive district titles in 2006 and 2007 and played on the USA Youth Elayne Greer (Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS) and Ashley National team in 2006, adding to her on-the-court experience. Robinson (Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster HS), the team’s tallest play - “Jourdan is a very skilled and quick defensive player who will ers at 6-foot-1, will share the middle blocking duties for the Spar - bring an outstanding competitive spirit and defensive mindset to our tans in 2008. After a productive senior season at Ridgeview, Greer volleyball program,” said Fry. was an All-Southwest Yosemite League second-team pick and the Nicole Kessner (Blacksburg, Va./Rancho Cucamonga HS team MVP . (Calif.)) will back up Honore at the setter position. Kessner averaged “Elayne brings a wealth of athleticism to the team because she over 800 assists per season in each of her two years on the varsity has a vertical jump of over 10 feet,” Fry said. “She has a lot of po - team at RCHS and was named to the All-Baseline Conference first- tential and we are excited to develop her skills. With a strong work team her junior and senior years. ethic and attention to detail, Elayne has the opportu - “Nicole has the hands, court sense, and knowledge to make her nity to elevate her game the special setter that she is,” Fry said. “She has all of the abilities this fall.” that we look for from that position, including high intensity, compet - itiveness and personality.” Fry will put her new squad to the test with the non-conference schedule she put together for 2008. The Spartans will take part in several tournaments, including ones hosted by Wake Forest, Char - lotte, N.C. State and East Carolina. In those tournaments, NSU will face the likes of Winthrop, Presbyterian, Farleigh Dickenson and Charlotte, all of which finished the 2007 season at or above .500. These matches will help prepare the Spartans for their MEAC slate. “The schedule that we are playing this year will give us an opportunity to showcase our young talent and help them gain the on-court experience they will need to compete with our conference opponents,” Fry said. “The tour - naments that we are playing in feature several high- level Division I teams that will force us to compete at a higher level and ultimately prepare us for conference play .”

Solange Honore

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 7 2008 ROSTERS

Norfolk State University 2008 Volleyball Rosters Numerical No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown/Previous School 1 Paige Gary-Canty OH 5-10 Fr. Winston-Salem, N .C./ Mount Tabor HS 3 Ashley Robinson MB 6-1 Fr. Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster HS 4 Aurelia Isham OH 5-7 Jr . Lancaster, Tex. /Mineral Area (Mo.) College 6 Elayne Greer MB 6-1 Fr. Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS 7 Solange Honore S 5-8 Jr. San Fernando, Trinidad/Pleasantville Sr. Comprehensive 8 Angie Clewis MH 5-9 Jr. Glen Heights, Tex./Mineral Area (Mo.) College 9 Breanna Allums OH 5-10 Fr. Channelview, Tex./Channelview HS 11 Nicole Kessner S 5-9 Fr. Blacksburg, Va. /Rancho Cucamonga HS (Calif.) 14 Jourdan Ellison Lib 5-4 Fr. Houston, Tex./Clear Brook HS 15 Yolanda Roberts OH 5-9 Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS 16 Shardonay Blueford OH 5-10 Sr. Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS

Alphabetical No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown/Previous School 9 Breanna Allums OH 5-10 Fr. Channelview, Tex./Channelview HS 16 Shardonay Blueford OH 5-10 Sr. Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS 8 Angie Clewis MH 5-9 Jr. Glen Heights, Tex./Mineral Area (Mo.) College 14 Jourdan Ellison Lib 5-4 Fr. Houston, Tex./Clear Brook HS 1 Paige Gary-Canty OH 5-10 Fr. Winston-Salem, N.C ./Mount Tabor HS 6 Elayne Greer MB 6-1 Fr. Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS 7 Solange Honore S 5-8 Jr. San Fernando, Trinidad/Pleasantville Sr. Comprehensive 4 Aurelia Isham OH 5-7 Jr. Lancaster, Tex. /Mineral Area (Mo.) College 11 Nicole Kessner S 5-9 Fr. Blacksburg, Va./Rancho Cucamonga HS (Calif.) 15 Yolanda Roberts OH 5-9 Sr. Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS 3 Ashley Robinson MB 6-1 Fr. Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster HS

Head Coach : Jennifer Fry (Montevallo ’02/Second Year) Graduate Assistant Coach : Jami Hester (Mississippi State ’06/First Year ) Volunteer Assistant : Brandon Duvall (Old Dominion ’98)

8 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM RETURNING PLAYERS

2006 : Played in 16 games…had a .053 hitting percentage, 11 kills, Shardonay Blueford five aces and four blocks for the season…had two kills and an ace Senior | 5-10 in the win over Quinnipiac (8-26-06)…had two digs against William Outside Hitter & Mary (9-1-06) and three against St. John’s (9-2-06). Chesapeake, Va./Indian River HS 2005 : Played in 15 games…was third on the team in hitting per - centage (.056)…had two kills in the win over Winston-Salem State (9-3-05)…also played for the women’s basketball team, averaging 0.7 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

High School : A four-year letterwinner in basketball and volleyball 16 at Indian River…was a first-team All-Southeastern District selec - tion each of her four years in volleyball…was an honorable mention all-district pick in basketball her first three years and was named to 2007 : Named the team ’s Most Valuable Player at the athletics the first team as a senior…helped the Braves to the district department awards banquet…saw expanded playing time during basketball championship each of her four years, and to the state the season, playing in all 104 games and starting 29 matches… Group AAA playoffs as a sophomore and junior…named Most averaged 1.89 kills and 2.49 digs per game…hit .061 for the Improved player in basketball as a freshman and Offensive Player season and had 14 service aces and 22 assists…had five solo of the Year as a sophomore…was the MVP of the basketball team blocks and 29 total blocks on the year…had double-digit kills in five her senior year. matches, including four straight matches of 10 kills each…had sea - son-highs of 16 kills and 18 digs in the 3-1 win over Bethune-Cook - Personal :Shardonay Ariana Blueford…born December 26, man (11-2-07)…recorded double-digit digs on 10 occasions…had 1986…daughter of Morris and Marietta Blueford…majoring in her first double-double of the season against Hampton (9-22- kinesitherapy…wants to become a volleyball or basketball coach. 07)…had 10 kills and 10 digs in that match…hit a season-high .375 with 10 kills and seven digs against Winston-Salem State (9-20- BLUEFORD’S CAREER STATISTICS 07)…had double-digit kills in seven of the last 11 games of the sea - Year GKETA PCT A SA SE RE DIG BS BA BHE son…had two aces against Loyola (8-25-07), South Carolina State 2005 15 76 18 .056 003 0 2 0 4 0 (10-2-07), and Winston-Salem State (11-9-07). 2006 16 11 9 38 .053 2514 2 15 221 2007 104 197 158 641 .061 22 14 38 51 259 5 24 2 Totals 135 215 173 697 .063 24 19 55 53 276 7 30 3

Get to know Shardonay Blueford • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? Brushing my teeth . • What is the weirdest combination of food that you love together? Macaroni and cheese with gravy • Who do you admire most in life and why? My father be- cause he is the most caring, understanding and dedicated person I know. • Person who would you like to meet? Barack Obama • What is your worst fear? Dying without living the life that is ahead of me . • Favorite Book: The Coldest Winter Ever • Favorite TV Show: The First 48 Hours • Favorite Movie: A Thin Line Between Love and Hate

Shardonay Blueford

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 9 RETURNING PLAYERS

2006 : Played in 93 games…led the team and ranked fifth in the Yolanda Roberts MEAC with 45 aces…had a team-high 276.5 points (2.97 per Senior | 5-9 game), and was second on the team with 173 digs…she leads the Outside Hitter 2007 returning players with 218 kills (2.34 per game) and with 26 Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside HS total blocks and ranks second among the returnees in hitting per - centage (.134)…had matches with 10 or more kills on eight occa - sions…hit a season-high .424 and had 17 kills against Bethune-Cookman (11-11-06)…had 10 kills, 10 digs and three aces against Hampton (9-19-06)…in the team’s two meetings with Winston-Salem State, she had a combined 24 kills, 17 digs, five aces and five block assists…had 17 kills, 16 digs and four aces 15 against South Carolina State (10-7-06)…hit .421 with 10 kills, six digs and two aces against Coppin State (10-13-06)…recorded 14 kills in the season-ending win over Savannah State (11-12-06). 2007 : Played in all 104 games…led the team with 220 kills and 2.12 kills per game…hit .098 (first on the team) and had 270 digs, 40 2005 : Played in 76 games….was the team’s Outstanding aces, 30 total blocks (eight solo) and 17 assists…was second on Rookie…led the team with 150 kills, an average of 1.97 per the team in digs and aces …had three double-doubles in kills and game…third on the team in aces (20) and fourth in digs (108) and digs for the season…leads the returning players in kills, hitting per - total blocks (34)…had four matches with 10 or more kills…tallied a centage, digs, solo blocks and total blocks…hit .389 with eight kills, season- and career-high 16 kills, nine digs and three aces against eight digs, and a season-high five aces in the 3-0 win over Hamp - Bethune-Cookman (9-30-05)…hit .500 with six kills, five aces and ton (9-4-07)…had 12 kills and 18 digs against Bethune-Cookman four digs in the win over Winston-Salem (9-3-05)…recorded 32 kills, (11-2-07)…hit .220 or better in 10 matches…had 10 kills, 12 digs 18 digs, seven aces and four block assists on the second day of and hit .381 in the 3-0 win over Savannah State (9-22-07)…had the MEAC Round-up (10-15-05), including 13 kills and three aces four streaks of matches with double-digit digs, with the longest against Delaware State and 12 kills and six digs against Hamp - stretching over four matches…hit .308 with nine kills, 11 digs and ton…had nine kills and five digs against South Carolina State (10- a season-high three solo blocks against Bethune-Cookman 27-05) and 10 kills and three digs against Hampton (11-9-05). (10-6-07)…recorded a double-double of 14 kills and 13 digs and hit .333 against Hampton (9-22-07)…hit .381 High School : Played four years of volleyball for coach Jonathan with 10 kills in the 3-0 win at Winston-Salem State Caldwell…received the Step Up award as a freshman and was (9-20-07). named team MVP as a junior and senior…was a member of the Marlins’ indoor and outdoor track and field teams, participating in the shot put and discus throws…was named to the All-Eastern Re - gion track team as a freshman and sophomore…received All-State honors as a junior and senior and won the indoor team’s Most Valu - able award as a junior.

Personal : Yolanda Yvonne Roberts…born May 24, 1987…daugh - ter of Irvin and Carroll Roberts…brother Irving III and sister Candice are NSU alums…majoring in elementary education…wants to be an elementary math or science teacher.

ROBERTS’ CAREER STATISTICS Year GKETA PCT A SA SE RE DIG BS BA BHE Yolanda Roberts 2005 76 150 125 508 .049 13 20 37 33 108 5 29 13 2006 93 218 134 628 .134 9 45 78 40 173 1 25 4 2007 104 220 147 744 .098 17 40 46 64 270 8 22 5 Totals 273 588 406 1880 .097 39 105 161 137 551 14 76 22

Get to know Yolanda Roberts • What is one thing you cannot go without • What is the funniest thing you’ve done when you for a day? My phone thought no one was looking? Ate food that dropped • If you were given a million dollars how would on the floor. you spend it? Buy a house in Va. Beach, an Escalade • Person who would you like to meet? Myself in EXT, give some to my parents, and give $25,000 back to 10 years the NSU Athletics Dept. • Favorite TV Show: The First 48 Hours • What is the weirdest combination of food that • Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans you love together? PB&J sandwich with a cold • Favorite Food: Cereal glass of milk

10 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM RETURNING PLAYERS

2006 : Played in 93 games, missing only one game for the sea - Solange Honore son…as the team’s primary setter, Honore led the team and ranked Junior | 5-8 10 th in the MEAC with 761 assists (8.2 per game)…was second on Setter the team with 43 aces and third with 138 digs…among returning San Fernando, Trinidad/ players, she ranked second with 34 total blocks (32 assists) and Pleasantville Senior third with 54 kills, 138 digs and 1.24 points per game…hit .200, had a career-high 53 assists and added three aces in the win over Win - Comprehensive ston-Salem State (9-24-06)…had 49 assists in the win over Sa - vannah State (11-12-06)…hit .750 with 44 assists and two aces against South Carolina State (9-24-06)…had more than 30 assists in 12 matches, including four with 40 or more and one of more than 7 50 assists… had 41 assists and 10 digs in the team’s second meet - ing with South Carolina State (10-7-06)…hit .333 with three aces and 27 assists against Winston-Salem State (9-24-06). 2007 : Played in all 104 season games… led the team with 818 as - sists, bringing her two-year career total to 1,579…jumped from High School : Played four years of volleyball at Pleasantville Sen - fourth to first on NSU’s all-time assist list… …had nine matches ior Comprehensive… played on the Trinidad Junior National Vol - with 30 or more assists, including three of 40 or more…hit .058 with leyball Team from 2001-2005. 55 kills, 42 aces, 235 digs and 27 total blocks for the season…had a season-high six aces against Winston-Salem State (11-9- Personal : Solange Chantale Honore…born May 2, 1989…daugh - 07)…tallied a double-double of 46 assists and 12 digs in a 3-1 ter of Terrence and Judith Honore…majoring in graphic de - MEAC win over Bethune-Cookman (11-2-07)… had a season-high sign…plans to become a graphic designer for an advertising six kills and added 30 assists and 12 digs at North Carolina A&T agency. (10-19-07)…had three consecutive matches with 30 or more assists and two straight with 40 or more…hit .500 with HONORE’S CAREER STATISTICS 25 assists, four kills and two aces against UNC Year GKETA PCT A SA SE RE DIG BS BA BHE Wilmington (9-7-07)…was fourth on the team in 2006 93 54 49 188 .027 761 43 47 4 15 2 32 1 digs (2.26 per game) and led the team in 2007 104 55 41 241 .058 818 42 40 5 235 1 26 57 aces…had her only solo block of the season Totals 197 109 90 429 .044 1,579 85 87 9 250 3 58 58 in a four-game loss to Hampton (9-22- 07)…recorded double-digit digs eight times for the season…recorded a season-best 22 digs against North Carolina Central (10-20- 07)…hit .300 with 35 assists, six digs, four kills and three block assists in the MEAC win at South Carolina State (10-10-07). Get to know Solange Honore • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? Communicating with someone . • If you were given a million dollars how would you spend it? Buying clothes and electronics . • What is you favorite quote? Live each day as if it were your last. • Person who would you like to meet? Chris Brown • Favorite Book: Romeo and Juliet • Favorite TV Show: Family Guy • Favorite Movie: Titanic • Favorite Food: Creole food

Solange Honore

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 11 NEWCOMERS

Angie Clewis Aurelia Isham Junior | 5-9 Junior | 5-7 Middle Hitter Outside Hitter Glen Heights, Tex ./Mineral Area Lancaster, Tex./Mineral Area (Mo.) (Mo.) College/Lancaster HS College/Lancaster HS 8 4

At MAC: Played on the volleyball team for two years…played in 30 At MAC : Played for coach Tim Copeland for two years…earned games and had 33 kills, 61 digs, and seven blocks as a sophomore National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region in 2007…received the Athletic Scholar Award as a freshman with a XVI second-team honors and was selected on the Mid-West Com - 3.42 GPA. munity College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) All-Conference team after tallying 272 kills, 223 digs, 99 total blocks, 24 aces as a soph - High School: Played three years of varsity volleyball…named to omore in 2007 . the 2005 Class 14-4A All-District first team after her senior year…also received second-team all-district honors in basketball High School : Played three years of varsity volleyball for coach La - that season…was a 2004 first-team all-district pick in volleyball and Monica Williams…received the Class 14-4A All-District Middle basketball as a junior…also played softball for Lancaster. Blocker of the Year award as a junior…named the to all-district first team and shared the all-district Middle Blocker of the Year honors Personal: Aurelia Ashley Isham…born on October 23, as a senior in 2005. 1987…daughter of Darwin and Shelia Isham…majoring in physi - cal education…undecided on career plans….twin brother Aaron Personal: Angie LaRae Clewis…born on December 1 7, runs track at Friends University in Wichita, Kan.…attended the 1987… daughter of Anjanett Clewis…majoring in business…plans same high school and junior college as teammate as Angie Clewis. to pursue a masters degree in business administration…attended the same high school and junior college as teammate Aurelia Isham. Get to know Aurelia Isham Get to know Angie Clewis • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? My cell phone • What is one thing you cannot go without • If you were given a million dollars how would for a day? Talking to my honey . you spend it? Start a family business . • What is the funniest thing you’ve done when you • Who do you admire most in life and why? thought no one was looking? Sing in the mirror . My parents because they taught me the true meaning of • Who do you admire most in life and why? My mother unconditional love. because she never gives up. • Person who would you like to meet? Michael Jordan • Person who would you like to meet? God • What is your worst fear? Failure • Favorite Book: Addicted • Favorite TV Show: Law & Order • Favorite Talk Show: The Wendy Williams Show • Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans • Favorite Movie: All About the Benjamins • Favorite Food: Mexican food • Favorite Food: Hot wings

12 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM NEWCOMERS

Personal: Jourdan Nicole Ellison…born on August 27, Breanna Allums 1990…daughter of Wayne Priestly and Anjelique Preston- Freshman | 5-10 Priestly…majoring in mass communications…wants to become a Outside Hitter coach and work in public relations. Channelview, Tex./Channelview HS Get to know Jourdan Ellison • What is one thing you cannot go without a day? My cell phone • What is the weirdest combination of food that you love together? Peanut butter and ice cream • What is the funniest thing you’ve done when 9 you thought no one was looking? Try to break dance . • Person who would you like to meet? Will Smith • What is your worst fear? Ghosts High School: Played four years of varsity volleyball for coach • Favorite Book : The Night I Disappeared Sharice Gilbert…named to the All-District 23-5A first team her soph - • Favorite TV Show: Law and Order omore through senior years…was the team’s Most Valuable Player • Favorite Movie : Remember the Titans as a sophomore and junior…received second-team all-district hon - ors as a freshman…was a Scholar Athlete as a sophomore in 2005. Paige Gary-Canty Personal: Breanna Danielle Allums…born on December 6, 1989…daughter of Wilbert and Deborah Allums…majoring in nurs - Freshman | 5-10 ing…plans to become an anesthesiologist. Outside Hitter Winston-Salem, N.C./ Mount Tabor HS Get to know Breanna Allums • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day ? My cell phone • What is the weirdest combination of food that you love together? Ketchup and bread 1 • What is the funniest thing you’ve done when you thought no one was looking? Run into a parked car . • Person who would you like to meet? My grandfather • Favorite Book : Shame On It All High School: Played two years of varsity volleyball for coach Robyn • Favorite TV Show: The Hills Wessalman…led the Mount Tabor Spartans to the 2007 Forsyth • Favorite Movie : Sex and the City County Volleyball Tournament title and a 26-2 record …spent her • Favorite Food : Grilled Chicke n freshman and sophomore years playing varsity basketball .

Personal: Paige LaJoi Gary-Canty…born on June 25, Jourdan Ellison 1990…daughter of LaTonya Young and Curtis and Valerie Freshman | 5-4 Canty .... majoring in theater…undecided on career plans. Libero Houston, Tex./Clear Brook HS Get to know Paige Gary-Canty • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? Brushing my teeth . • What is the weirdest combination of food that you love together? Sour cream and quesadillas 14 • What is the funniest thing you’ve done when you thought no one was looking? Went streaking . • Who do you admire most in life and why? My mom High School: Played two years on the varsity team for coach because she is strong, beautiful, intelligent and always Meredith Phillips…named to the 24 5-A All-District second team as knows what to do and say. a senior in 2007 after she tallied 432 digs…helped Clear Brook to • What is your worst fear? Spiders and cobwebs back-to-back Bi-District 24 championship titles in 2006 and • Favorite TV Show: Keeping up with the Kardashians 2007…played on the USA Youth National Team and attended the • Favorite Movie: Grease USA High Performance Holiday and Development Camps in • Favorite Food: Japanese food 2006…recognized by Who’s Who in Texas for volleyball her junior and senior years.

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 13 NEWCOMERS

science…wants to become an athletic trainer for an NFL team. Elyane Greer Freshman | 6-1 Get to know Nicole Kessner Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? Reading a book . Middle Blocker • Who do you admire most in life and why? My high school coach Dave Andazola because he taught me everything I know about volleyball and about being a good person. • Person who would you like to meet? Queen Mary of Scotland • What is your worst fear? Snakes and spiders • Favorite Book: Twilight 6 • Favorite TV Show: House • Favorite Movie: Indiana Jones • Favorite Food: In-and-Out Burgers High School : Played one season on the varsity volleyball team for coach Heather Graham…had 159 kills, 51 total blocks (35 solo), 50 digs, and 28 aces in 2007 as a senior…named to the All-Southwest Yosemite League second team and was the team MVP after her senior year…also threw the shot put for Ridgeview. Ashley Robinson Personal: Elayne Elizabeth Greer…born on September 9, Freshman | 6-1 1990…majoring in biology…wants to be an officer in the U.S. Middle Blocker Army…twin sister Erika also played volleyball for Ridgeview. Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster HS

Get to know Elayne Greer • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? My dog • What is the weirdest combination of food that you love together? Bananas, honey and peanut butter 3 • What is the funniest thing you’ve done when you thought no one was looking? Random dancing Who do you admire most in life and why? My mom because of all the things she taught me in life. High School : Played two years of varsity volleyball for coach Dave • Favorite Book: Anything by Kathy Reich Gutierrez…had 106 kills and 15 blocks as a senior…named to the • Favorite TV Show: CSI All-Golden League first team her junior and senior years…had the • Favorite Movie: Any James Bond movie match-winning kill in the 3-1 defeat of Gahr High School in the open - • Favorite Food: Carne asada tacos ing round of the 2006 CIF-Southern Section Division III-AA play - offs… had 11 kills and five blocks in that game… helped Lancaster to the 2006 Golden League title and a runner-up finish in 2007…was Nicole Kessner a two-year scholar athlete…received the Most Improved Player Freshman | 5-9 award after her junior year…also participated on the basketball and Setter track teams at Lancaster . Blacksburg, Va./ Rancho Cucamonga HS (Calif.) Personal: Ashley Elizabeth Robinson…born on October 10, 1990…daughter of Andrea Lonien and Ken Robinson…majoring in kinesitherapy…undecided on a major.

Get to know Ashley Robinson 11 • What is one thing you cannot go without for a day? Talking to my mom. • If you were given a million dollars how would you spend it? Build a house that my entire family can live that will be passed down for generations. High School : Played two years of varsity volleyball for coach Bran - • What is the funniest thing you've done when you thought no don Blevins…named to the All-Baseline Conference first-team as a one was looking? Use someone’s car mirror to fix my hair and make up with junior and senior…tallied 910 assists, 205 digs, 102 kills, 24 aces out realizing that someone was in the car looking at me. and 30 blocks (11 solo) her senior year…had 707 assists, 158 digs, • Who do you admire most in life and why? My mom because she has 95 kills, 36 blocks (14 solo), and 17 aces as a junior…was also a many admirable qualities and she always helps people. scholar athlete at RCHS…named to the Ayala and Los Osos High • What is your worst fear? Being on a roller coaster that starts without School all-tournament teams her junior and senior years. me being buckled in properly. • Favorite TV Show: Fact or Fiction Personal: Nicole Marie Kessner…born on December 28, • Favorite Movie : Double Jeopardy 1989…daughter of Janice and David Kessner…majoring in exercise • Favorite Food: Chocolate Cake

14 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2007 SEASON STATISTICS

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 15 NSU ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

NSU Athletics Three-Year Highlights (2005-Present )

The Norfolk State University Athletics program has experienced unprecedented success at the NCAA Division I level during the past The following is a list of accomplishments and three years (2005-08). This period of progress has been highlighted improvements the NSU Athletics program has by improvements and upgrades in virtually every area critical to experienced since 2005. transforming NSU Athletics into a highly competitive program that will consistently challenge for Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and NCAA Division I championships.

The catalyst for these advancements has been Marty Miller , who was appointed athletics director at NSU in December 2004. Miller believes that the mission of the athletics program is as an extension of the mission of Norfolk State University . He places an emphasis on areas that impact the welfare of student-athletes. Improving graduation rates , gender equity, and the retention of student-athletes are equally, if not more important, than winning con - ference and national championships. However, the effectiveness of the programs and initiatives designed to enhance the student-athlete experience and improve the overall administrative process, are di - rectly related to the success the teams and individual athletes have achieved since 2005 . Sherie Cornish (Asst. AD/Business Oper - ations), Alisha Tucker (Asst. AD/ Compliance) and Jacqueline Nicholson (Academic Counseling) were hired to meet the The graduation rate for NSU student-athletes has department’s increasing demands in their respective areas. increased 15% over the last three years.

A host of new head coaches joined the staff signaling new beginnings in several sports. They included Pete Adrian (Football), ACADEMICS Claudell Clark (Baseball ), Anthony Evans (Men’s Basketball), • Had 31 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named Jennifer Fry (Volleyball), Kary Kankey (Softball), Wilhelmenia to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2004-05 Harrison (Bowling), and Tara Owens (Women’s Basketball) . • Had 36 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named Kenneth Giles (Men’s Track) and Ronda Berard (Women’s Track) to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2005-06 were promoted from interim to full-time head coaches in their • Had 34 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named respective sports. to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2006-07 • Had 42 student-athletes (sophomores or higher) named Giles’ cross country and track teams have dominated the MEAC. to MEAC All-Academic team (min. GPA: 3.0) in 2007-08 Adrian, who captured several coach of the year honors in 2007, has • Had 63 student-athletes earn honor roll status in fall 2007 orchestrated the steady progress of the football team , which came • Increased student-athlete graduation success within a game of capturing its first MEAC title. Evans capped his rate from 40% to 55% first season with co-MEAC Coach of the Year honors while guiding • David Kemboi was one of 50 student-athletes nationwide the Spartans to their best finish in the MEAC and Division I. Kankey named to the 2006-07 Division I Men’s Cross Country and Clark led their teams to runners-up finishes at the MEAC All-Academic team as selected by the Track Championships in their respective sports while Fry’s volleyball team and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association advanced to the MEAC Volleyball Tournament in her inaugural sea - (USTFCCCA) son. It was the team’s first appearance at the MEAC Champi - onship since 2004 . Harrison guided the bowling team to its first Administrative MEAC Championship semifinal. • Hired full-time assistant sports information director (Jan. 2007) The accomplishments of NSU student-athletes in the classroom • Hired full-time athletics academic coordinator since 2005 have been equally impressive. More than 30 student- (March 2008) athletes are annually named to the MEAC Commissioner’s • Developed comprehensive gender-equity and All-Academic Team . catastrophic incident guideline plans • Hired a full-time strength and conditioning coach (August 2008)

16 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM NSU ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

Football • Matched 2005 and 2006 win total (8-14) in 2007 with a record of (8-3) • Record 10 NSU players named All-MEAC in 2007 • Pete Adrian named NSU’s first MEAC Football Coach of the Year in 2007 • Earned school’s first-ever national FCS/I-AA ranking in 2007, reaching as high as 23 rd

Football Attendance • Ranked 20th in Division I FCS (I-AA) in 2005 • Ranked 23rd in Division I FCS (I-AA) in 2006 • Ranked 7th in Division I FCS (I-AA) in 2007 The NSU Softball Field was renovated in 2007 to add new dugouts • Had the 2nd and 3rd-largest crowds in Stadium and a press box, one of several recent facilities upgrades. history in 2007 : vs. Hampton (27,756) and vs. Virginia State (26,970) Facilities • Set a stadium record in average attendance in 2007 • Completed softball field renovations in 2007-08, including (17,220 average for 6 games) construction of a press box, dugouts and restrooms • Renovated weight room in Gill Gymnasium in 2005, increasing size of existing room and purchasing new equipment Men’s Basketball • Completed refurbishing of women’s sports locker rooms • Won 16 games in 2007-08 , a 5-win improvement in Gill Gymnasium over the previous year • Replaced the outfield wall at the Marty L. Miller Baseball Field • Finished 2007-08 with program’s first overall • Renovating the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall basketball winning record (16-15) since 1998-99 arena (August 2008)

Program Awards • Won the last 4 MEAC Men’s All-Sports Awards (Talmadge Layman Hill Award) and earned the NSU Athletics Department $100,000 from 2005-2008. • Had the baseball, men’s basketball and football teams all post winning records in 2007-08 for the first time in the Division I era

The NSU men’s track and field team has won a total of six MEAC championships the last three years.

Men’s Cross Country • Won MEAC championships in 2005 and 2006, extending its conference record to seven straight titles The Spartans have won the last four Talmadge Layman Hill • Sent a runner to the NCAA Division I Awards, given annually to the MEAC top men’s sports program. National Cross Country Championship for the first time TV Exposure in school and MEAC history in 2006 • Hosted the school’s first two nationally televised softball (David Kemboi) games in 2007 and 2008 • Had 6 sporting events televised on ESPN networks Track & Field (3 football games, 2 men’s basketball, 1 softball) in 2007-08, • Became first MEAC men’s track program most in school history to win both the indoor and outdoor • Had 4 sporting events televised on ESPN networks conference championships (2 men’s basketball, 1 football, 1 softball) in 2006-07 for three consecutive academic • Had 5 sporting events televised on ESPN networks years (2006-08) (3 men’s basketball, 2 football) in 2005-06

David Kemboi was an all-region cross country runner 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 17 who also was named an academic All-American in 2006. NSU ADMINISTRATION

Carolyn W. Meyers, Ph.D. , the fourth president of Norfolk State University, previously served as provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and a tenured professor in the College of Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Meyers holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical en - gineering from , a master’s in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (), and a Ph.D. in chemical engi - neering, also from Georgia Tech. She has completed postdoctoral work at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management. Her career in higher education spans more than 30 years and includes both academic and administrative experiences.

Highlights from her career include the following: • Served as the first chair of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Aerospace. • Held membership on several boards including the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and the Carolyn Winstead Meyers,Ph.D. Moses Cone Health Systems. President • Holds membership on the Board of Trustees of Norwich University, MentorNet, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, the Center for the Advancement of Engineering Education, the Board of Governors for RTI International, the Advisory Board for the Journal of Engineering Education, the Board of Directors of Riverside Health Foundation, Hampton Roads Partnership, the Greater Norfolk Corporation, Nauticus, the Innovative Technology Authority, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Capital Financing Advisory Board. Also serves on the Regional Board of Directors for the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and as an Advisory Committee Member for the Extraordinary Women Engineers Project. • Currently is serving a second term as a member-at-large of the ASME Committee on Honors and is a member of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s 2007 Assessment Task Force. • Appointed to the American Council on Education Commission on Effective Leadership beginning July 1, 2007. • Served as the first associate dean of research for the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech and was later appointed professor and dean of the College of Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. • Inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni at Georgia Tech. • Served as a program officer in two divisions of the National Science Foundation—the Division of Undergraduate Education and the Division of Human Resource Development. • Received the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award, Society of Automotive Engineers’ Ralph A. Teetor Award, and the National Society of Black Engineers’ Golden Torch Award. Dr. Meyers is a native of Newport News, Va. She is the proud parent of three adult children and grandmother of two.

18 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM NSU ADMINISTRATION

Marty L. Miller Memorial Award, given annually to the area’s top sportsman has been called by the Norfolk Sports Club. many things dur - ing his tenure at Miller is no stranger to winning. His career record as baseball Norfolk State coach was 718-543-3. Miller first started making a name for University. Some himself as a player at NSU from 1965-68. He hit .380 as a have called him sophomore; .438 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers a rock. Others and 27 RBI as a junior; and .406 as a senior, when he be - have referred to came the first Spartan player to be named an NCAA College him as one of Division All-American. Norfolk State’s greatest ambas - Miller graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in sadors. Regard - 1969. An ROTC member in college, Miller was commissioned less of the label, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after he graduated. what’s clear is While on active duty, Miller was signed by the Minnesota that Miller has Twins. Miller returned to his alma mater in 1972 as an assis - served his alma tant to baseball coach Bob Andrews. The next season, Miller Marty L. Miller mater in various inherited the head-coaching job, which he held until early in 2005. Director of Athletics capacities for more than 3 5 years, providing NSU with stability in times of need. His coaching beginning was modest. Miller’s first team at NSU, the 1973 edition, went 0-12, but that would not last. The His professional career at Norfolk State has included stints next year, NSU went 7-1 against CIAA competition as Miller in the areas of financial aid, career services, student affairs served notice that the Spartans would be a force for some and athletics. After winning more than 700 games as the time. school’s baseball coach, Miller was named NSU’s acting ath - letics director on December 16, 2004. He was appointed to Miller is the winningest baseball coach in CIAA history, hav - the permanent athletics director post on March 18, 2005. ing led the Spartans to a 584-374-3 record in their years in the league. Miller’s ledger in the CIAA includes 17 conference Early in Miller’s tenure, he was confronted with many chal - championships, including seven in a row from 1987-93; 12 lenges, the biggest one being the hiring of a football coach. post-season appearances; 15 CIAA Coach of the Year Miller and his search committee worked during the Christmas awards; six All-Americans and 22 players signed to pro con - and New Year’s holidays to find a football coach. The hard tracts. He also won the 1980 NAIA District 19 Coach of the work paid off when the decision was made to hire Pete Adrian Year award after his team won the District 19 title. from Bethune-Cookman College. With approval of then-Pres - ident Dr. Marie V. McDemmond, Adrian became the first white In 1997, NSU honored Miller by building the Marty L. Miller head coach in any major sport at NSU and the second ever Baseball Field. One year later, Miller led NSU to the MEAC in MEAC football history. Tournament championship round in the Spartans’ first year in the league. He was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in Shortly thereafter, with help from alumni, fans, friends and 2000, and NSU reached the championship round again in the Department of Facilities Management, the athletics de - 2001. partment was able to raise funds to renovate and purchase new equipment for the weight room. In 2007, the school com - The year 2003 was also a special one for Miller. In February, pleted a major renovation of the NSU Softball Field, which in - Miller was inducted into the CIAA’s John B. McLendon Hall of cluded the installation of new team dugouts and a press box. Fame. In May, Miller earned his 700th career win with the Bleacher renovations to Joseph Echols Hall are underway for Spartans when sixth-seeded NSU upset No. 2 Delaware 2008-09. State in the MEAC tournament. In August, Miller the player was honored as one of eight inductees into the Norfolk State Another highlight of his tenure as athletics director includes University Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame. NSU capturing the last four Talmadge Layman Hill awards, given annually to the top men’s sports program in the con - Miller, a native of Danville, Va., also serves on the Norfolk ference. NSU received $ 25,000 for winning each award . Miller Sports Club Board of Directors. He and his wife Liz have one was also presented in March 2006 with the Tom Fergusson son, Marty Eric, a former NSU outfielder.

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Ind. Best earned her doctorate in educational administration Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) Spon - Craig Cotton from American University in Washington, D.C. sorship Committee and the College Athletic Business Man - Craig Cotton is in his eighth year agement Association (CABMA) Program Committee. as associate athletics director for ex - Cornish was an accomplished basketball player at Mor - ternal operations. He is also in his fifth Mitch Callis gan State, where she scored more than 1,000 career points. year as executive director of the NSU Mitch Callis is in his 24th year as She was a four-year letterwinner and was team captain her Athletics Foundation. Cotton joined the assistant athletics director for sports final three seasons. NSU athletics staff after serving as medicine at Norfolk State University. A native of Severna Park, Md., Cornish earned her bach - marketing manager at Howard One of the leading practitioners in the elor’s degree in sports administration from Morgan State in University. field of sports medicine in Hampton 2002 and her master’s in sports management from Temple Cotton’s primary duties at NSU in - Roads, Callis is known both regionally in 2004. clude developing and managing marketing and public rela - and nationally for his outstanding con - tions projects with particular focus on the “Team Spartan tributions to the field of sports Corporate Partners Program,” a comprehensive sports mar - medicine. Dr. Delanyard Robinson keting initiative designed to attract corporate sponsorship Prior to accepting his position at Norfolk State, Callis was Dr. Delanyard Robinson is in his and funding for the athletics program. an athletic trainer for the ’s Philadel - 16th year as faculty athletic represen - Previously, Cotton worked for seven years in the phia Phillies franchise. During the fall of 1983, Callis served tative for the Norfolk State Athletics Delaware State University Public Relations Office. He ar - as head athletic trainer for the Phillies’ Florida Instructional Department. Robinson is also a pro - rived at the Dover, Del.-based institution in 1992 and served League Team in Clearwater. fessor in the Psychology Department as sports information director for two years before his ap - Callis has also served as a graduate assistant at the Col - at Norfolk State. pointment as the university’s director of public relations and lege of William & Mary and at Old Dominion University. Robinson is a native of Bessemer, marketing in 1994. A native of South Hill, Va., Callis received his bachelor’s Ala. He earned a bachelor’s degree in From 1988-1992, Cotton was associate director of sports degree from . He earned his master’s de - social in 1965 at Tuskegee In - information at Temple University. He worked for seven years gree in sports medicine from Old Dominion. stitute, where he as a four-year letterwinner in football. (1981-1988) as sports information director and administra - Callis and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of five chil - Robinson received his master’s degree in experimental psy - tive assistant to the director of intercollegiate athletics at the dren: Michelle, Scott, Jordan, Taylor and Justine. chology from St. Mary’s College (Tex.) in 1971, and in 1980 University of he received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Rut - Maryland-Eastern Shore. gers University. Cotton was also was a press operations manager for the Alisha Tucker Dr. Robinson and his wife, Barbara, have two sons, Roby United States Olympic Committee (USOC) at the 1996 Sum - Alisha Tucker is in her third year as and Michael. mer Games in Atlanta, Ga.; 199 5 Pan American Games in assistant athletic director for compli - Mar del Plata, Argentina; and the 199 4 U.S. Olympic Festi - ance at Norfolk State. Previously, she val in St. Louis, Mo. served as the athletics eligibility spe - Matt Michalec Cotton is a native of Greensboro, N.C., and a 1980 grad - cialist and curriculum coordinator at Matt Michalec is in his sixth full uate of North Carolina A&T State University, where he Marshall University from 2005-06. year as sports information director at earned a bachelor’s degree in English-mass communica - Tucker began her career as an as - NSU. He is in charge of coordinating tions. He received the M.Ed. degree at Temple University in sistant compliance coordinator at media relations efforts for all 15 of 1995. Michigan State University from 2001-02, NSU’s athletics programs. His duties Cotton and his wife, Cynthia, reside in Norfolk, Va. and then earned a promotion to compliance coordinator at include the production of press MSU in 2003. Tucker also worked as director of compliance guides, fielding media requests, keep - at Villanova from November 2003 to June 2004, then was ing statistics at all home athletic con - Dr. Emma R. Best assistant athletics director for compliance at the University of tests, and maintaining the university Dr. Emma R. Best is in her 10 th Richmond from June 2004-January 2005. athletics web site. In 2006, he was named the Black College year as associate athletics director for Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature Baseball SID of the Year. internal operations at NSU. Her duties and composition from the in 1996. She Previously, Michalec worked for two years as a part-time include managing the budget, over - earned her master’s in sports management from Old Do - sports reporter and editorial assistant at the Daily Press seeing facilities and equipment and minion University in 2001. newspaper in Newport News, Va. assisting coaches with administrative A Hampton native, Tucker was a track and field athlete at Michalec graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s responsibilities. She is also entering Hampton High School. She was also a sprinter and hurdler degree in English and a minor in communications from Old her second year as the department’s on the U.Va. track team. Tucker was also the liaison be - Dominion University in 2002. He served as sports editor for Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) . tween the student-government and the athletics department ODU’s student newspaper during his time there. He got his Prior to coming to NSU, Best served for 28 years in var - serving on various committees. She is also a member of professional start by working for two years as a sportswriter ious capacities at the University of District of Columbia. From Sorority, Inc., and currently resides in Hamp - at the York Town Crier and Poquoson Post newspapers in 1986 to 1988, she was interim athletics director. Her duties ton. York County, Va. included budgeting, event and facility management, and Michalec and his wife, Annie, live in Newport News and team scheduling. Best was also assistant professor in the have one son, Brandon . Department of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Stud - Sherie Cornish ies, and was even head volleyball coach during her tenure Sherie Cornish is in her third year at UDC. as the assistant athletics director for Karen M. Carty Dr. Best is a past president and treasurer of the National business operations at NSU. Previ - Karen M. Carty is in her second Athletics Steering Committee and past chair of the NCAA ously, Cornish worked as the senior full year as assistant sports informa - Women’s Committee on Committees. She also served two administrative assistant in the Ameri - tion director. Previously, she worked terms on the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Com - can University athletics department on a part-time basis in the NSU sports mittee and NCAA Professional Sports Liaison Committee . during the summer and fall of 2005. information office for two years. Her She also served on the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Re - Cornish also served as an athlet - primary duties include assisting in the gion Men’s basketball selection committee from 1987-1990. ics department intern at the University day-to-day operations of the sports in - A native of Valdosta, Ga., Best earned her bachelor’s de - of Maryland in 2004-05 and as an assistant women’s bas - formation office, the publication of gree in health and physical education from Fort Valley State ketball coach and recruiting coordinator at her alma mater, media guides, and the coordination of University in Fort Valley, Ga., and her master’s degree in , during the 2003-04 school year. game day operations with an emphasis on the women’s bas - physical education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Cornish currently serves on the National Association of ketball, women’s cross country, women’s indoor and outdoor

20 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION

track, volleyball and softball programs . Carty graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s de - Nathaniel Warren Reese Bridgman gree in general business with an emphasis in marketing from Nathaniel Warren is in his eighth Reese Bridgman is in his first year as NSU in 2004. She was a member of the women’s tennis year as facilities coordinator at Norfolk the Spartans’ strength and condition - team and was named to the 2004 MEAC Commissioner’s State. Warren, who earned a bache - ing coach. Bridgman will oversee the All-Academic team. She is also a lifetime member of Golden lor’s degree in health, physical educa - strength and conditioning efforts for all Key International Honor Society and Beta Gamma Sigma, tion and safety from NSU in 1969, also 15 of NSU’s sports programs. an honor society for business majors. serves as head men’s and women’s Bridgman previously served as the The St. Croix, U.S.V.I. native is currently pursuing her tennis coach. He is responsible for strength and conditioning coach for the master’s degree in sports management through the dis - starting the men’s tennis program in Newport News Apprentice School’s tance-learning program at the United States Sports Acad - the 1992-93 season and the women’s in football program from 2005-07. He was emy in Daphne, Ala. 1994-95. also the Builders defensive coordinator in 2007 after coach - Warren, whose teams have won more than 80 percent ing the defensive line in 2005 and 2006. of their matches and boast the highest grade-point average Before moving to the Hampton Roads area, Bridgman was Shirley Whitaker of NSU’s athletic programs, also holds a master’s degree in the head strength and conditioning coach for the University Shirley Whitaker , Administrative administration from NSU. of Central Florida from 1997-2003. Bridgman helped train and Program Specialist III, has been 20 UCF football players who went on to make active NFL a part of the NSU Athletics Depart - rosters, including the likes of Daunte Culpepper, Asante ment for more than 30 years. William Wright Samuel, Travis Fisher, Atari Bigby, Steve Edwards, Bran - Whitaker, who joined the athletics de - William Wright is in his sixth year don Marshall and Rashad Jeanty. Other top-notch ath - partment in 1971, began working with as the head equipment manager at letes he helped tutor at UCF include Major League pitcher the department under then-athletics di - NSU. Previously, Wright worked as a Mike Maroth. rector William Archie. Since then she parking supervisor in NSU’s Office of Along with his strength and conditioning expertise, Bridg - has assisted succeeding athletics di - Parking and Transportation. He has man has an extensive background as a football coach at the rectors , William “Dick” Price, Orby Moss and also served as a security officer at high school, college and professional levels. Bridgman the department’s current director, Marty Miller. NSU. coached two seasons in the . He Whitaker’s duties cover a variety of specialized areas to A native of Portsmouth, Wright let - coached linemen and was the strength coach for the include administrative, technical and compliance support for tered in football, basketball and track at Orlando Predators in their ArenaBowl runner-up season of the athletics department . NSU in the early 1980s. He was a member of the 1984 CIAA 1995. The following year, he worked in the same ca - Whitaker is a native of Newport News, Va., and a 1971 championship football team. pacity for the Milwaukee Mustangs (now defunct). graduate of NSU, where she received a bachelor’s degree Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary Bridgman’s one stint as a head football coach came at in business education. She earned a master’s degree at studies and a minor in physical education in 1995. He is cur - East Central Community College in his home state of Mis - NSU in urban affairs with an emphasis in human resources, rently pursuing his master’s in administration. sissippi from 1992-94. He has also worked as an assistant planning and administration. Wright has four daughters, Chiquita, Nikeya, Britney and football coach at NAIA Georgia Southwestern College and at Ashley, and a son, Arial; and one granddaughter, Kyra. a pair of Division II schools, Southeast Oklahoma State and East Texas State (now known as Texas A&M-Commerce). He also was men’s track coach during his tenure at South - Shirley Brooks Jacqueline Nicholson eastern Oklahoma State. Shirley Brooks is in her ninth year Jacqueline Nicholson is in her first Bridgman, a native of Tylertown, Miss., got his foot - as the football administrative assistant year as the athletics academic coordi - ball coaching start at Hattiesburg (Miss.) Prep in 1983. for the NSU athletics department. nator at NSU. Nicholson’s responsibil - Bridgman, 46, received his bachelor’s degree in ath - Brooks oversees all administrative of ities include advising all NSU letic administration and coaching from the University of the program, including coordinating student -athletes on issues of NCAA el - Southern Mississippi in 1985. He earned his master’s in special events, player files and main - igibility requirements and monitoring physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology taining the recruiting database. progress toward their degrees . Nichol - from East Texas State (Texas A&M-Commerce) in 1986. A native of Hertford, N.C., Brooks son is also in charge of coordinating Bridgman is certified through the National Strength has three children: Derek, Dietrich and the academic support efforts for each and C onditioning Association, the Collegiate Strength Verletita. She is currently working toward her degree in team along with the academic enhancement counselors . and Conditioning Coaches Association, and the Na - tourism and hospitality management at Norfolk State. Previously, Nicholson worked as an academic coordina - tional Association of Speed and Explosion. He and his wife, tor intern at during the 2007-08 school year, Kelly, reside in Chesapeake. assisting with the Hokies football team. She also served as Meghan Antinarelli a graduate assistant in the university academic advising cen - Meghan Antinarelli is in her ter at Virginia Tech from 2005-07. eighth year as an athletics trainer at A native of Clayton, N.J., Nicholson was a four-year let - NSU. Antinarelli, who is originally from terwinner for the Hokies track and field team as a sprinter Wellesley, Mass., received her bache - and hurdler. She was a member of the Virginia Tech all-aca - lor’s degree in health and physical ed - demic team and athletics director’s honor roll. She earned ucation from the University of her bachelor’s degree in human development in 2005 and Massachusetts in 1998. She received her master’s in educational leadership in 2007, both from her master’s degree in athletic training Virginia Tech. at Old Dominion University in 2001. She and her husband, Joseph, live in Suffolk and have one son, Nicholas. Nate Bell Nate Bell is in his 1 3th year as assis - tant equipment manager for the Norfolk State University athletics department. A native of Norfolk, Va., Bell is a 1994 graduate of Maury High School, were he lettered in football, and wrestling. Bell and his wife, Jeanette, reside in Norfolk .

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NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY Total Sports - 15 ATHLETICS FOUNDATION Women’s Sports Basketball A BRIEF OVERVIEW Bowling Founded in 1980, the mission of the NSU Athletics Foundation is to provide funding to Cross Country the NSU Athletics program that will enable student-athletes to achieve excellence Indoor Track & Field in both academics and athletics. Additionally, the NSUAF will support overall Outdoor Track & Field program enhancement including funding for scholarships, facility improvements, Softball equipment, and services and programs that promote a high-quality intercollegiate Tennis athletics program. Volleyball Norfolk State University’s proud legacy of achievement in intercollegiate athletics Men’s Sports began at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Baseball Athletic Association (CIAA). NSU was one of the league’s most dominant programs, Basketball winning championships in each sport. Cross Country Football In 1997, NSU was admitted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) – Indoor Track & Field one of only two NCAA Division I conferences comprised of historically black Outdoor Track & Field colleges and universities. Other conference members include: Bethune-Cookman Tennis University, , Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, , Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University , South Carolina State University and Winston-Salem State University . NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS FOUNDATION NSU made an immediate impression within the conference in 2000-01 when the Spartans won the Talmadge Hill Award - presented annually to the member BOARD OF DIRECTORS institution whose men’s teams compile the most points based on team finishes in Fran Steward, President conference play. Mervin Pitchford, Vice President Phillip Brooks, Treasurer The Spartans won the Talmadge Hill Award again each year from 2005-08. In all, Craig Cotton, Executive Director NSU has won conference titles in men’s and women’s track, men’s cross country Marty Miller, Athletics Director and women’s basketball during its brief tenure in the MEAC.

Robert Boyd Why Support Norfolk State University Athletics? Edward L. Brown Sr.* • NSU competes at the nation’s highest level of intercollegiate athletics Jacob L. Cheeks competition – National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Randy Forrest - and is a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Harold Hagans John Hornbeck • The need to increase funding for scholarships for deserving student-athletes A. Graige Johnson motivated by achievement both in athletics and academics. * • Improvements and maintenance of equipment and facilities that will enable Langston Powell NSU student-athletes to perform at their full potential. William "Dick" Price • A competitive athletics program of the highest quality is consistent with the Zackery Rodgers institution’s mission of “Achieving With Excellence.” James Satterfield* • A competitive athletics program contributes to the enjoyment of the Donna Sample Smith student-athlete experience. John Warren

* - Emeritus

22 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM THE MEAC

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), a NCAA Division I Conference, is in its In women’s basketball, South Carolina State won the Association for Intercollegiate 38th year of operation heading into the 2008-2009 academic school year. Housed in the Athletics for Women (AIAW ) Division II National Championship in 1979. In 1982, Howard Armada Hoffler Tower at Town Center of Virginia Beach, Virginia, the MEAC is made up became the first MEAC women’s team to participate in the NCAA Division I Basketball of 12 outstanding, historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune- Championships . South Carolina State earned the berth in 1983 and became the first Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M MEAC team, men or women, to win a first-round game in the NCAA Division I University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Basketball Tournament. Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Coppin State, winners of back-to back conference tournaments in 2005 and 2006, South Carolina State University and Winston-Salem State University. earned a berth to the 2007 WNIT . The Lady Eagles defeated Saint Joseph’s in the first round to earn their first Division I postseason victory. HISTORY In football, prior to the establishment of Division I-AA competition, the MEAC football In 1969, a bold ad hoc group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athlet - champion played in the Gold Bowl held in Richmond, Va., which matched them against ics met in Durham, N .C., to discuss the feasibility of organizing a new conference . Dis - the champion of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). South Carolina sected from these discussions, a steering and planning committee was formed to fully State represented the MEAC in 1977 and 1978, winning both outings over Winston - investigate the idea, present a detailed report with recommendations to interested colle - Salem State and Norfolk State respectively. giate institutions, and then construct a workshop to outline proposals. South Carolina State won MEAC football titles in 1981 and 1982 and reached the sec - After adopting a program, seven institutions (Delaware State College, Howard Uni - ond round of the I-AA championships both years . versity, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina In addition to NCAA post-season play, MEAC football teams have appeared in NCAA A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State Col - sanctioned bowl-games . The MEAC was also instrumental in constructing the Freedom lege) agreed to become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Its major objective was to Bowl All-Star Classic and the Heritage Bowl. establish, organize and supervise an intercollegiate athletic program among a compact In outdoor track and field, North Carolina Central won the first three MEAC outdoor group of educational institutions of high academic standards and with a sound philoso - track and field titles and finished fourth in the 1974 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and phy of co-curricular activities. Field Championships. North Carolina Central’s Larry Black was a member of the 1972 The conference was confirmed in 1970, kicking off its first season of competition in foot - Olympic 400-meter relay team that won the gold medal and the silver medal in the 200- ball in 1971. meter dash. In 1978, a milestone was reached when the MEAC selected Kenneth A. Free to be MEAC women began outdoor track and field conference competition in 1980. Two its first full-time commissioner. He had been preceded by three interim (part-time) com - years later, South Carolina State won the AIAW Division II Outdoor Track and Field Na - missioners: Dr. Leroy Walker (1971-74); who later had the distinction of serving as the tional Championship (1982). President of the United States Olympic Committee, the late Earl Mason (1974-75) and The MEAC initiated cross country and indoor track and field in 1981. Tennis and golf the late Dr. James Young (1975-78). returned as MEAC-governed sports in 1981 after a five-year hiatus. Golf was discontin - Kenneth A. Free served the conference for 18 years before stepping down in 1995. ued after the 1982 championships. In 1996, Charles S. Harris was named commissioner and served in the capacity until April In wrestling, Morgan State won 13 of the 2 4 conference championships. Individual 2002. Longtime MEAC administrator Brenda H. McCoy served two stints as Interim Com - wrestling champions were granted automatic entry into the NCAA championships in missioner, one in 1996 and again in 2002. On September 1, 2002, Dr. Dennis E. Thomas 1986 . The MEAC discontinued wrestling as a conference-governed championship in was named the commissioner and has served in the position for six years. 1995. The leagues’ first expansion occurred in October 1979 when Bethune-Cookman Col - Baseball (discontinued following the 1977 season) along with women’s volleyball were lege and Florida A&M University were voted into the MEAC as new members. Original added as MEAC-governed sports in 1983. Women’s softball became a MEAC sanc - members Morgan State, North Carolina Central and Maryland Eastern Shore withdrew tioned sport in 1992. from the conference at the end of the 1979 fiscal year. Maryland Eastern Shore was In 2003 , Florida A&M became the first MEAC school to win a volleyball match in the readmitted in 1981 and Morgan State returned in 1984. Florida A&M opted to resign in NCAA Championship, with a first-round win over Winthrop. In 2004, the Lady Rattlers 1984, but was readmitted in 1986. Coppin State College was granted admittance in 1985, became the first HBCU becoming the ninth member institution. The MEAC expanded again in the 90’s with the team ranked in the Top inclusion of Hampton University (1995) and Norfolk State University (1997) . The final ex - 25 American Volleyball pansion occurred in 2007, with the addition of Winston-Salem State University . Coaches Association On June 8, 1980, the MEAC was classified as a Division I conference by the National (AVCA) national poll. MEAC Volleyball Champions Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The following month the MEAC received an au - In softball, Bethune- >>ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS tomatic berth to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Cookman earned the Year Champion Outstanding Coach Runner-Up Currently, the league has automatic qualifying bids for NCAA postseason play in base - league’s first-ever at-large 2008 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Md. Eastern Shore ball (since 1994), men’s basketball (since 1981), women’s basketball (since 1982), foot - bid to the NCAA Softball 2007 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Md . Eastern Shore ball (since 1996), softball (since 1995), men and women’s tennis (since 1998), and Championship in 2005. 2006 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Morgan State 2005 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov North Carolina A&T volleyball (since 1994). The Lady Wildcats de - 2004 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Morgan State feated Florida, Central 2003 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Md . Eastern Shore SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Florida and South Florida 2002 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Morgan State 2001 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Morgan State The MEAC has enjoyed great athletic success over the years. In 2008 , Maryland East - in the Florida Regional to 2000 Morgan State Ramona Riley-Bozier Florida A&M ern Shore defeated Arkansas State, 4-2 to win the NCAA Women’s Bowling National become the first MEAC 1999 Florida A&M Tony Trifonov Morgan State Championship, the first in conference and school history . Lady Hawks’ head coach school to win a NCAA Di - 1998 Morgan State Ramona Riley-Bozier North Carolina A&T 1997 Morgan State Ramona Riley-Bozier Florida A&M Sharon Brummell became the first female head coach to win a NCAA bowling title. vision I Softball Regional. 1996 Florida A&M Pamela Riley Morgan State In men’s basketball, Morgan State won the 1974 NCAA College Division II National Bethune-Cookman ended 1995 Florida A&M Pamela Riley Morgan State 1994 Howard Linda Spencer Morgan State Championship. The 1981 tournament champion became the first MEAC the 2005 season with the 1993 Howard Linda Spencer Florida A&M team to play in the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship. MEAC tournament run - leagues’ first-ever rank - 1992 Morgan State Ramona Riley Florida A&M ners-up North Carolina A&T was invited to play in the National Invitational Tournament ings in the final softball 1991 Howard Linda Spencer Morgan State 1990 S.C. State Charlene Myers Florida A&M (NIT) during the same season . polls, reaching No. 18 in 1989 Howard Linda Spencer Florida A&M Coppin State and Hampton also made history in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tour - the NFCA/USA Today 1987 Howard Linda Spencer Florida A&M nament with first-round victories. The No. 15 seeded Coppin State defeated No. 2 South Coaches poll and No. 23 1986 Delaware St. Mary Lamb Md. Eastern Shore 1985 Howard Cynthia Debnam North Carolina A&T Carolina in 1997 and No. 15 seeded Hampton defeated No. 2 Iowa State in 2001. Both in the USA Softball/ 1984 Delaware St. Mary Lamb Md. Eastern Shore victories ranked among the Top 10 greatest tournament upsets of all-time by ESPN’s ESPN.com Poll. 1983 Howard Cynthia Debnam North Carolina A&T SportsCenter.

WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE • 23 VOLLEYBALL RECORDS

ASSISTS 7. Angie Moretto (1988-91) 165 INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Match: 60 vs. Coppin State , 11/15/03 8. Janelle Ross (1996-99) 161 KILLS Season: 1,084, 1993 9. Shea Kersey (2003-06) 107 Match: 26 (5 games) – Amanda Johnson 10. Allison Millette (1989-92) 102 vs. Howard , 10/17/03 BLOCKS SOLO 11. Kim Mumford ( 1992-95) 95 Season: 307 – April Johnson, 1996 Match: 27 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 12. Regina Youkin (1993-96) 59 Career: 879 – Kim Mumford, 1992-95 9/7/97 13. Chanel Barnes (2003-06) 40 Season: 267, 1993 14. Lisa Roach (1990-93) 39 KILL ATTEMPTS 15. Rachael Weatherspoon (2004-05) 25 Match: 69 (4 games) – Stacey Williams BLOCK ASSISTS vs. Coppin Sate , 9/26/03 Match: 36 vs. Delaware State, 11/1/97 BLOCKS SOLO Season: 902 – April Johnson, 1996 Season: 234, 2006 1. Dianne Harris (1992-95) 117 Career: 2,053 – Kim Mumford , 1992-95 2. Holly Gray (1993-95) 107 DIGS 3. Kim Mumford (1992-95) 91 SERVICE ACES Match: 129 vs. St. Augustine’s, 9/29/96 4. Afreya Allen (2003-06) 84 Match: 10 – Yolanda Roberts Season: 2,025, 1996 5. Karina Moore (2005- 2006) 78 vs. Winston-Salem State, 9/29/06 6. Regina Younkin (1993-96) 52 Season: 55 – Regina Younkin, 1996 7. Lisa Roach (1990-93) 47 Career: 243 – Dianne Harris, 1992-95 CAREER LEADERS 8. Annette Burris (1990-93) 38 KILLS 9. Kami Jackson (1991-94) 35 ASSISTS 1. Kim Mumford (1992-95) 879 10. Jennell Holloman (1996-99) 31 Match: 55 – (5 games) Afreya Allen 2. Kami Jackson (1991-94) 719 11. Vanessa Blyden (1995-96) 28 vs. Howard, 10/17/03 3. Holly Gray (1993-95) 668 12. April Johnson (1995-98) 27 Season: 761 – Solange Honore, 2006 4. Dianne Harris (1992-95) 607 Career: 1,5 79 – Solange Honore , 5. Yolanda Roberts (2005-present) 588 BLOCK ASSISTS 2006-present 6. Chanel Barnes (2003-06) 437 1. Chanel Barnes (2003-06) 133 7. Regina Younkin (1993-96) 425 2. Karina Moore (2005- 2006) 122 BLOCKS SOLO 8. Shea Kersey (2003-06) 417 3. Shea Kersey (2003-06) 100 Match: 9 – Jennell Holloman 9. April Johnson (1995-98) 403 4. Dianne Harris (1992-95) 102 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, 9/7/97 10 . Afreya Allen (2003-06) 373 5. Holly Gray (1993-95) 85 Season: 63 – Dianne Harris , 1993 11. Chantel Cherry (2005- 2007) 343 T-6. Afreya Allen (2003-06) 76 Career: 117 – Dianne Harris, 1992-95 12 . Amanda Johnson (2003, 2005) 287 T-6. Yolanda Roberts (2005-present) 76 13 . Karina Moore (2005-2006) 281 8. Lisa Roach (1990-93) 74 BLOCK ASSISTS 14 . Annette Burris (1990-93) 277 9. Regina Youkin (1993-96) 65 Match: 11 – Samoria Kelsey 15 . Stacey Williams (2003) 251 10 . Solange Honore (2006-present) 58 vs. Delaware State, 11/1/97 11 . Kim Mumford (1992-95) 56 Season: 69 – Karina Moore, 2005 SERVICE ACES 12. April Johnson (1995-98) 40 Career: 133 – Chanel Barnes, 2003-06 1. Dianne Harris (1992-95) 243 13 . Aricka Spellman (1991-94) 39 2. Regina Youkin (1993-96) 192 14 . Kami Jackson (1991-94) 37 DIGS 3. Kim Mumford (1992-95) 191 15 . Annette Burris (1990-93) 33 Match: 29 – April Johnson 4. Holly Gray (1993-95) 151 vs. Virginia Union, 10/23/96 5. Kami Jackson (1991-94) 130 DIGS Season: 449 – April Johnson, 1996 6. Aricka Spellman (1991-94) 111 1. Kim Mumford (1992-95) 810 Career: 810 – Kim Mumford, 1992-95 7. Yolanda Roberts (2005-present) 105 2. Regina Youkin (1993-96) 754 8. Annette Burris (1990-93) 100 3. Shea Kersey (2003-06) 610 9. April Johnson (1995-98) 85 4. April Johnson (1995-98) 593 TEAM RECORDS 10 . Afreya Allen (2003-06) 84 5. Abaina Farrell (2005- 2007) 584 11. Shea Kersey (2003-06) 78 6. Yolanda Roberts (2005-present) 551 Kills 12. Donnetta Fisher (1993-96) 74 7. Afreya Allen (2003-06) 502 Match: 7 2 vs. Howard , 10/17/03 13 . Lisa Roach (1990-93) 69 8. Cicely Hocker (1994-97) 429 Season: 1,314, 1993 14. Chanel Barnes (2003-06) 58 9. Dianne Harris (1992-95) 386 15. Stacey Williams (2003) 47 10 . Kami Jackson (1991-94) 380 Kill Attempts 11 . Aricka Spellman (1991-94) 354 Match: 230 vs. Fayetteville State 11/3/96 ASSISTS 12 . Holly Gray (1993-95) 335 Season: 4,196, 1996 1. Solange Honore (2006-present) 1,579 13. Rachael Weatherspoon (2004-05) 317 2. Dianne Harris (1992-95) 1,514 14. Vanessa Blyden (1995-96) 308 Service Aces 3. Afreya Allen (2003-06) 1,447 15 . Donnetta Fisher (1993-96) 289 Match: 32 recorded twice 4. Holly Gray (1993-95) 1,087 Season: 385, 1995 5. Cicely Hocker (1994-97) 552 6. Natasha Harvey 411 Bold : Indicates active players. Note: Statistics prior to 1991 and for the 1998 and 2000 seasons are unavailable.

24 • 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE WWW.NSUSPARTANS.COM

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2008 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

DAY DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME

AUGUST Sat. 23 GREEN & GOLD SCRIMMAGE Norfolk, Va. 4 p.m. Fri. 29 vs. Winthrop % Winston-Salem, N.C. 4:30 p.m. Sat. 30 at Wake Forest % Winston-Salem, N.C. 12:30 p.m. vs. Davidson % Winston-Salem, N.C. 4:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER Tues. 2 VIRGINIA STATE Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Fri. 5 vs. Youngstown State ! Charlotte, N.C. 4:30 p.m. Sat. 6 at Charlotte ! Charlotte, N.C. 12:30 p.m. vs. Howard ! Charlotte, N.C. 4:30 p.m. Tues. 9 at Hampton Hampton, Va. 6 p.m. Fri. 12 at N.C. State # Raleigh, N.C. Noon vs. UNC Asheville # Raleigh, N.C. 5 p.m. Sat. 13 vs. William & Mary # Raleigh, N.C. 10 a.m. Tues. 16 MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Fri. 19 at Western Carolina ^ Cullowhee, N.C. 2:30 p.m. vs. Presbyterian ^ Cullowhee, N.C. 5 p.m. Sat. 20 vs. Arkansas State ^ Cullowhee, N.C. 11:30 a.m. Fri. 26 vs. Wagner $ Dover, Del. 3 p.m. at Delaware State $ Dover, Del. 7 p.m. Sat. 27 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson $ Dover, Del. 10 a.m.

OCTOBER Fri. 3 NORTH CAROLINA A&T Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Sun. 5 at Florida A&M Tallahassee, Fla. 3 p.m. Mon. 6 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. 7 p.m. Fri. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Sun. 12 BETHUNE-COOKMAN Norfolk, Va. 3 p.m. Wed. 15 at Virginia State Petersburg, Va. 6 p.m. Fri. 17 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. 6 p.m. Sun. 19 at Winston-Salem State Winston-Salem, N.C. 3 p.m. Tues. 21 JAMES MADISON Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Wed. 22 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, S .C. 6 p.m. Wed. 29 at North Carolina Central Raleigh, N.C. 6 p.m. Fri. 31 FLORIDA A&M Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER Sun. 2 WINSTON-SALEM STATE Norfolk, Va. 3 p.m. Wed. 5 HAMPTON Norfolk, Va. 7 p.m. Fri.-Sun . 14-16 MEAC Championship Hampton, Va. TBA

Home games in bold played at Joseph Echols Hall % - Wake Forest Tournament ! - UNC Charlotte Tournament # - Wolfpack Hilton RTP Classic ^ - Western Carolina Tournament $ - Delaware State Hornet Invitational