2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY LADY PIRATES VOLLEYBALL

2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY
LADY PIRATES VOLLEYBALL
Friday, Oct. 24, 2014 — vs. Coppin State, 6 p.m.
Holland Hall, Hampton, Va.
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 — vs. Morgan State, 3 p.m.
Holland Hall, Hampton, Va.
2014 Schedule
2014 Lady Pirates Volleyball Roster
11-9 Overall/6-0 MEAC
Date
Opponent
DePaul Invitational
Bradley
Stony Brook
DePaul
Time/Result
Sept. 2
William & Mary
L, 0-3
Sept. 5
Sept. 6
JMU Invitational
James Madison
George Washington
Southeast Louisiana
L, 1-3
W, 3-1
W, 3-0
Sept. 9
Radford
L, 2-3
Sept. 12
Sept. 13
Tiny Laster Memorial Classic
Georgetown
L, 1-3
Presbyterian
L, 2-3
Aug. 29
Aug. 30
W, 3-2
W, 3-0
W, 3-1
Sept. 19
Sept. 20
Northern Colorado Classic
Northern Colorado
L, 1-3
Wyoming
L, 0-3
UC Davis
L, 1-3
Sept. 26
Sept. 28
Oct. 3
Oct. 5
Oct. 12
Oct. 14
Oct. 19
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
Oct. 30
Oct. 31
Nov. 2
Nov. 7
Nov. 9
Nov. 14
Norfolk State*
Morgan State*
Coppin State*
Howard*
UMES*
VCU
Norfolk State*
Coppin State*
Morgan State*
Manhattan
NJIT
Howard*
Delaware State*
UMES*
Delaware State*
W, 3-0
W, 3-1
W, 3-2
W, 3-1
W, 3-0
L, 2-3
W, 3-0
6 p.m.
3 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
Nov. 21
Nov. 22
Nov. 23
MEAC Tournament
MEAC Quarterfinals
MEAC Semifinals
MEAC Title Match
TBA
TBA
TBA
Home matches in bold
*denotes MEAC match
Times are EST; dates and times are subject to
change
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
Name
Krista Kraskura
Kennedy Kenney
Marija Kocevska
Allysa Medina
Erin Napoleon
Vendula Strakova
Sonja Maksimovic
Mallory Beard
Kitija Megne
Raya O’Neal
Tatyana Thomas
Ravyn Richardson
Summer Humes
Pos.
OH/DS
MB
MB
OH/DS
MB/OH
RH
OH
S/DS
S
S
MB
OH
DS
Ht.
5-9
6-2
6-2
5-6
5-9
6-0
6-1
5-6
5-10
5-10
6-3
6-0
5-7
Class
Sr.
r-Fr.
Sr.
Jr.
Fr.
Sr.
Sr.
Fr.
Sr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Fr.
Hometown/Previous School
Kuldiga, Latvia/Muranji Sports Gymnasium
Milpitas, Calif./Milpitas HS
SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia/Powell Valley HS
Menifee, Calif./Paloma Valley HS
Fontana, Calif./Etiwanda HS
Brno, Czech Republic/Univ. of San Francisco
Belgrade, Serbia/Mihailo Petrovic-Alas
Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills HS
Kuldiga, Latvia/Virginia Tech
East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton HS
Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River HS
Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron HS
Los Angeles, Calif./New Roads School
Head Coach: Karen Weatherington (2nd season, New Mexico State ’88)
Assistant Coaches: Janay Yancey (2nd season, Middle Tennessee State ’09), Nicole Giancola (1st
season, Florida Tech ’11)
THE WEEKEND
The defending MEAC champion Lady Pirates will resume MEAC Northern Division play this weekend,
taking on Coppin State on Friday at 6 p.m. and Morgan State on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Holland Hall.
THE OPPONENT
The Lady Pirates are 35-7 all-time against Coppin State, having won 14 of the last 16 meetings, and
they are 6-35 against Morgan State, having won four of the last five meetings. Hampton defeated both
teams earlier this season.
LADY PIRATES PICKED TO REPEAT
The Lady Pirates were picked as the favorite to win the MEAC Northern Division this season, picking
up 23 of a possible 26 first-place votes in a preseason poll voted on by the conference’s head coaches
and sports information directors. Hampton went 19-11 last season and won the MEAC Northern Division regular-season crown with a mark of 10-2 — setting the program Div. I mark for most conference
wins in a single season. The Lady Pirates went on win their first-ever MEAC Tournament crown.
STRAKOVA NAMED PRESEASON PLAYER OF YEAR
Senior rightside Vendula Strakova has been tabbed the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year — after
earning the conference’s top honor in 2013 (becoming the first Hampton player to do so). It’s yet another in a laundry list of accolades for Strakova, who last year was named Honorable Mention AllAmerican by the American Volleyball Coaches Association — becoming the first Hampton player ever
to be recognized by the AVCA. She was also named AVCA All-East Region, the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Player of the Year, and the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player
(another Hampton first).
Sports Information
VB Contact: Jeff Cunningham
Office: (757) 727-5811
Fax: (757) 727-5813
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @Hampton_VB & @HUAthletics1868
Facebook: Search “Hampton Athletics Sports Information”
YouTube: www.youtube.com/hamptonsportsinfo Web: www.hamptonpirates.com
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
2014 Quick Facts
GENERAL
Location
Founded
Enrollment
Affiliation
Conference
President
Director of Athletics
SWA
Athletics Phone
Athletics Fax
Mascot
Colors
Arena
Capacity
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach
Alma Mater
Record at Hampton
Career Record
Assistant Coach
Alma Mater
Assistant Coach
Alma Mater
Director of Operations
Alma Mater
Volleyball Phone
Best Time to Reach
Head Athletic Trainer
Assistant Athletic Trainers
Director of Athletic Performance
SPORTS INFORMATION
(Email address @hamptonu.edu)
Assistant SID/VB Contact
Office Phone
Cell Phone
Fax
E-Mail
SID
SID Office Phone
Website
Twitter
Overnight Address
TEAM INFORMATION
2013 Overall Record
2013 MEAC Record
2013 Conference Finish
2013 Postseason
Hampton, Va. 23668
1868
4,768
NCAA/Division I
MEAC
Dr. William R. Harvey
Eugene Marshall Jr.
Paula Jackson
(757) 727-5641
(757) 727-6995
Lady Pirates
Royal Blue and White
Holland Hall
2,870
Karen Weatherington
New Mexico State ‘88
30-20 (2nd season)
93-76 (6th season)
Janay Yancey
MTSU ‘09
Nicole Giancola
Florida Tech ‘11
Petra Parros
Hampton ‘14
(757) 728-6899
Contact Volleyball SID
Kevin Addison
Faye Tayag
Christian Johansson
Renee Anthony
Carly Laidlaw
Veronica Johnson
Jeff Cunningham
(757) 727-5811
(757) 637-5845
(757) 727-5813
jeffrey.cunningham
Maurice Williams
(757) 727-5757
www.hamptonpirates.com
@Hampton_VB
@HUAthletics1868
Hampton University
Sports Information
194 Holland Hall
Hampton, VA 23668
Starters Returning/Lost
Letterwinners Returning/Lost
Newcomers
19-11
10-2
Northern Division title
MEAC champs
NCAA First Round
4/3 (+libero)
6/7 (+libero)
6
HISTORY
First year of volleyball
Last postseason appearance
All-time record
All-time CIAA Record
All-time MEAC Record
MEAC titles (season/tournament)
MEAC Tournament Record
1977
2013
471-502
119-25 (12 years)
104-111 (19 years)
1/1
5-11
A HISTORIC SEASON
The 2013 season was one of firsts for the Lady Pirates; they won their first-ever MEAC Tournament title — and corresponding bid to the NCAA Tournament — after taking their first MEAC
Northern Division regular-season crown. Hampton won 19 matches last season, tying the program Div. I mark for most wins in a season, and the Lady Pirates’ 10-2 record in conference
play marked a program Div. I high in conference wins in a season.
MAKING QUICK WORK OF IT
The Lady Pirates went 10-4 in three-set matches last season, and prior to their NCAA Tournament match-up against Stanford, they had won seven of their last eight matches that wrapped
up in straight sets. Hampton is 5-2 in straight sets so far this season after a straight-set win
over Norfolk State this past Sunday.
IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL
The Lady Pirates went 4-2 in five-set matches last season — including the MEAC Tournament
championship match against Coppin State. Over the past two-plus seasons, the Lady Pirates
are 10-8 in matches that go the distance following a hard-fought five-set loss to VCU in Holland
Hall on Tuesday.
WEATHERINGTON ADDS TO STAFF
Head coach Karen Weatherington will have a larger staff at her disposal in her second season
with the Lady Pirates; on top of Janay Yancey, who is entering her second season as assistant
coach, Nicole Giancola will join the staff as an assistant coach. In addition, former Lady Pirate
Petra Parros will join the staff as the Director of Operations. Parros graduated from Hampton
this past May, and Giancola was last the head varsity volleyball coach at nearby Nansemond
River High School, going 18-3 and unbeaten in conference play last season.
MEGNE AND KRASKURA HAVE A HISTORY
Incoming senior setter Kitija Megne, a transfer from Virginia Tech, hails from Kuldiga, Latvia —
which is also the hometown of senior outside hitter (and Second Team All-MEAC honoree)
Krista Kraskura. In fact, the two are friends and long-time beach volleyball partners in the summer.
LADY PIRATES PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Krista Kraskura – Krass-KOOR-uh
Marija Kocevska – Ma-ree-ah Ko-CHEF-ska
Allysa Medina – Uh-LIS-uh Meh-DEE-nuh
Vendula Strakova – VEN-doo-luh STRAH-ko-vuh (call her Vendi)
Sonja Maksimovic – SON-Yuh Max-EE-mo-vich
Kitija Megne – KIT-yuh MEG-neh
Raya O’Neal – RAY-uh
Tatyana Thomas – Tah-TEE-yah-nuh
Janay Yancey – Juh-NAY
Nicole Giancola — GIN-co-lah
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
START THE COUNTDOWN
Following Sunday’s match against Norfolk State, senior rightside Vendula Strakova has 1,468
career kills at Hampton, which ranks her second in program history and makes her one of just
five players ever to cross the 1,000-kill mark. After tallying 14 kills at Norfolk State, Strakova is
now just four kills behind all-time record holder Chavanca Hoskins, who tallied 1,472 kills from
2003-06. So far this season, she has already passed both Nicole Adams (1,244) and LaJaiah
Miles (1,249) on the program’s all-time career kills list. Strakova already has 434 kills so far this
season.
STRAKOVA IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
One of the reasons senior rightside Vendula Strakova was named Honorable Mention AllAmerican in 2013 was her standing in the national rankings; she led all Div. I players in points
last season, averaging 6.51 per set. In addition, her 5.59 kills per set were not only a MEAC
best, but they were the second-highest kills-per-set average in the nation. She also ranked
fourth among all Div. I players in service aces in 2013 with a team-high 65 (0.58 per set).
KOCEVSKA ONE OF NATION’S BEST SERVERS
On top of being one of the Lady Pirates’ most improved players in 2013, senior middle blocker
Marija Kocevska was one of the nation’s best servers. She tallied 44 aces on the season, the
second-most on the team, and her 0.40 aces-per-set average ranked her fourth in the MEAC
and tied for 30th in the nation. In addition, Kocevska led the Lady Pirates with 100.0 total
blocks, averaging 0.91 per set.
TOURNAMENT CRAZY
The Lady Pirates will compete in four tournaments during the 2014 regular season, which started with the DePaul Invitational. Hampton then went to Harrisonburg, Va. on Sept. 5-6 to compete in the James Madison Invitational, in a field that included the host Dukes, George Washington, and Southeastern Louisiana. On Sept. 12-13, the Lady Pirates hosted the Tiny Laster
Memorial Classic, taking on Presbyterian and Georgetown as they honored the late volleyball,
basketball, and softball coach. Hampton’s last tournament of the regular season was in Colorado, as the Lady Pirates competed in the Northern Colorado Classic this past weekend in Greeley, Colo. — with a field that included the host school, Wyoming, and UC Davis.
HAMPTON DIV. I RPI RANKINGS (SINCE 2001)
The Lady Pirates recorded their best-ever RPI last season, ranking 187th out of 332 Div. I
programs for their best showing since 2001 (the earliest year for which the NCAA keeps digital
RPI records). Hampton also had the best RPI ranking of any team in the MEAC, and the Lady
Pirates have improved their RPI ranking in each of the last five seasons. In 2013, Florida A&M
had the second-best RPI ranking among MEAC schools at 212; Howard had the third-highest
RPI in the conference at 245.
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
*as of 10/20/2014
213 (out of 334)*
187 (out of 332)
251 (out of 330)
271 (out of 327)
314 (out of 330)
316 (out of 329)
322 (out of 329)
313 (out of 324)
315 (out of 320)
288 (out of 317)
310 (out of 315)
267 (out of 311)
295 (out of 313)
278 (out of 312)
2014 By the Numbers
Overall
Conference Play
11-9
6-0
At Home
On the Road
Neutral Sites
2-3
5-4
4-2
In 3 Sets
In 4 Sets
In 5 Sets
5-2
4-4
2-3
Tournament Play
DePaul Invitational
JMU Invitational
Tiny Laster Memorial
Northern Colorado Classic
MEAC Championships
NCAA Tournament
5-6
3-0
2-1
0-2
0-3
0-0
0-0
vs. MEAC North Teams
vs. MEAC South Teams
vs. Non-Conference Teams
vs. Top 50 Teams
6-0
0-0
5-9
0-0
In August
In September
In October
In November
In December
3-0
4-8
4-1
0-0
0-0
On Monday
On Tuesday
On Wednesday
On Thursday
On Friday
On Saturday
On Sunday
0-0
0-3
0-0
0-0
3-3
4-3
4-0
More Kills Than Opponent
Less Kills That Opponent
Same Number of Kills
11-5
0-4
0-0
More Errors Than Opponent
Less Errors Than Opponent
Same Number of Errors
2-7
8-1
1-1
Better Hitting %
Worse Hitting %
Same Hitting %
11-4
0-5
0-0
More Assists Than Opponent
Less Assists Than Opponent
Same Number of Assists
11-6
0-3
0-0
More Service Aces Than Opponent
Less Service Aces Than Opponent
Same Number of Service Aces
5-1
4-6
2-2
More Service Errors Than Opponent
Less Service Errors Than Opponent
Same Number of Service Errors
5-9
5-0
1-0
More Blocks Than Opponent
Less Blocks Than Opponent
Same Number of Blocks
7-0
4-9
0-0
More Digs Than Opponent
Less Digs Than Opponent
Same Number of Digs
10-3
1-5
0-1
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
2014 MEAC Volleyball
2014 MEAC Volleyball Standings
*as of Oct. 20, 2014
KRASKURA NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL-MEAC LAST SEASON
As the Lady Pirates’ No. 2 offensive threat, senior outside hitter Krista Kraskura had a strong
2013 season — earning Second Team All-MEAC honors. She was strong in the DePaul Invitational this past weekend, recording three double-doubles and hitting .340. She now has nine
double-doubles in 20 matches to open the season after the Lady Pirates’ straight-set win over
Norfolk State on Sunday.
MEAC Northern Division
Hampton
11-9
Howard
12-9
Morgan State
11-9
Coppin State
10-10
UMES
10-12
Delaware State
1-16
Norfolk State
0-19
6-0
5-1
4-3
4-3
3-4
1-5
0-7
MEDINA HAD A BREAKOUT JUNIOR SEASON
Junior outside hitter Allysa Medina was one of the Lady Pirates’ most improved players in
2013, showing power on the outside that betray her 5-foot-6 frame. Medina had a career-high
nine kills in a five-set win over William & Mary to announce her arrival, and in conference play,
she had 92 kills, an average of 0.91 per set, to go along with 123 digs on defense. She added
eight kills against Norfolk State, hitting a career-best .533 in that match after going error-free in
15 attacks.
MEAC Southern Division
Florida A&M
7-12
Bethune-Cookman 6-16
N.C. A&T
3-18
S.C. State
2-20
N.C. Central
1-22
Savannah State 4-19
5-0
4-1
3-2
2-3
1-4
0-5
THOMAS GIVES LADY PIRATES LOCAL FLAVOR
Incoming freshman middle blocker Tatyana Thomas isn’t just the tallest player on the team,
standing at 6-foot-3. She is also the only player on the roster from Virginia, having played her
high school volleyball at Nansemond River High School in nearby Suffolk, Va. There, she
played under current Lady Pirates assistant coach Nicole Giancola, and as a senior, she was
named the Ironclad Conference Player of the Year. She led Nansemond River to the conference championship and was named Team MVP.
A BLOCK PARTY AT HAMPTON
Six Lady Pirates recorded at least 30 total blocks last season, led by middle blocker Marija
Voted on by the league’s head coaches and SIDs; first-place Kocevska, who had 100.0 total blocks. Senior rightside Vendula Strakova was second on the
votes are in parentheses
team with 69.0 total blocks in 2013, and Petra Parros was third with 64.0 total blocks. Senior
outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (39.0), recently-graduated setter Bibiany Fonseca (38.0), and
MEAC Northern Division
senior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (33.0) were also strong at the net in 2013. Hampton had
Hampton (23)
179
more blocks than its opponent 11 times in 2013, going 10-1 in those matches.
Howard (2)
140
Coppin State (1)
131
LADY PIRATES LED THE NATION IN ACES
Morgan State
84
The Lady Pirates were the best serving team in the nation in 2013, leading all Div. I programs
Norfolk State
81
with 1.95 aces per set. Hampton had a season-high 14 aces three times last season: at Norfolk
Maryland Eastern Shore
59
State in the regular season, and against South Carolina State and Howard in the quarterfinals
Delaware State
54
and semifinals of the MEAC Tournament. The Lady Pirates had more aces than their opponent
2014 MEAC Preseason Rankings
MEAC Southern Division
Florida A&M (23)
North Carolina A&T (2)
Bethune-Cookman (1)
South Carolina State
North Carolina Central
Savannah State
20 times in 2013, winning 16 of those matches.
153
112
101
75
70
35
2014 Preseason All-MEAC Team
Player
School Pos.
Delicia Pierre
B-CU
OH
Cindy Okpegbue
CSU
OH
Vendula Strakova*
HAM
RS
Katherine Broussard
HOW
OH
Ginna Lopez-Chavez
FAMU MB
Assata Conway
HOW
MB
Stephanie Shultis
HOW
S
Joanie Del Castillo
FAMU L
*denotes MEAC Preseason Player of the Year
LADY PIRATES HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE
Despite graduating five seniors last season, the Lady Pirates come into 2014 with a bevy of
experience — thanks in large part to four returning seniors, a senior transfer, and a junior. Vendula Strakova, Krista Kraskura, Sonja Maksimovic, and Marija Kocevska each have at least
two seasons’ worth of experience at Hampton, and all four played in at least 85 sets in 2013.
In addition, incoming transfer Kitija Megne, a setter, has Div. I experience thanks to her time at
Virginia Tech. Outside hitter Allysa Medina is the team’s lone junior, and she had a breakout
2013 season. In addition, Medina can play a defensive position, which she did on occasion as
a freshman and sophomore.
LADY PIRATES EARN AVCA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD
For the second straight year, the Lady Pirates have been awarded the Team Academic Award
from the AVCA. Hampton was among 676 collegiate and high school programs to be recognized, and there were 134 Div. I honorees.
The only other MEAC school to be recognized was Bethune-Cookman. The Lady Pirates had
the highest team GPA at Hampton in 2013-14, and former volleyball player Andjela Petrovic
was named valedictorian.
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
LADY PIRATES IN THE 2014 MEAC RANKINGS — OVERALL
Team
Hitting Percentage
Opponent Hitting Percentage
Assists
Kills
Blocks
Service Aces
Digs
1st
5th
1st
1st
5th
6th
9th
.261
.212
12.40
13.26
1.68
1.36
12.27
Individual
Hitting Percentage
Kills
Assists
Blocks
Points
Strakova
Kraskura
Strakova
Kraskura
Megne
Kenney
Kocevska
Strakova
Kraskura
3rd
8th
1st
8th
1st
8th
9th
1st
9th
.313
.260
5.56
2.97
10.68
0.76
0.73
6.19
3.37
Through 10/19/2014
LADY PIRATES IN THE 2014 MEAC RANKINGS — CONFERENCE MATCHES ONLY
Team
Hitting Percentage
Opponent Hitting Percentage
Assists
Kills
Blocks
Service Aces
Digs
2nd
5th
2nd
2nd
3rd
6th
5th
.314
.157
12.32
13.23
2.23
1.59
12.36
Individual
Hitting Percentage
Kills
Assists
Blocks
Digs
Points
Through 10/19/2014
Strakova
Kraskura
Strakova
Kraskura
Megne
Kenney
Kocevska
Strakova
Strakova
3rd
10th
1st
8th
3rd
6th
8th
7th
1st
.383
.325
5.41
3.09
10.45
0.95
0.86
3.18
6.02
1st
2nd
2nd
8th
13th
42nd
55th
434
5.56
6.19
12.36
964
833
10.68
LADY PIRATES IN THE 2014 NCAA RANKINGS
Team
Hitting Percentage
Total Aces
Total Assists
Total Kills
Assists Per Set
Aces Per Set
31st
82nd
86th
92nd
93rd
96th
.261
106
967
1,034
12.40
1.36
Individual
Total Kills
Kills Per Set
Points Per Set
Attacks Per Set
Total Attacks
Total Assists
Assists Per Set
Strakova
Strakova
Strakova
Strakova
Strakova
Megne
Megne
Through 10/19/2014
MEAC WEEKLY VOLLEYBALL HONORS
Sept. 1
Sept. 8
Sept. 15
Sept. 22
Sept. 29
Oct. 6
Oct. 13
Oct. 20
Oct. 27
Nov. 3
Nov. 10
Nov. 17
Player of the Week
Vendula Strakova, Hampton/Cindy Okpegbue, Coppin State
Vendula Strakova, Hampton
Arianna Hayden, Morgan State/Assata Conway, Howard
Yeisha Arcia, Florida A&M
Vendula Strakova, Hampton
Vendula Strakova, Hampton/Hazel Ortiz-Rosado, B-CU
Liz Martino, North Carolina A&T
Vendula Strakova, Hampton
Rookie of the Week
Khalia Donaldson, Howard
Bailee Jackson, Coppin State
Khalia Donaldson, Howard
Pamela Soriano, Florida A&M
Pamela Soriano, Florida A&M
Pamela Soriano, Florida A&M
Paige Phillips, North Carolina Central
Pamela Soriano, Florida A&M
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach Karen Weatherington
Karen Weatherington is entering her
second season as the head volleyball coach at Hampton University,
taking over a program that had won
32 matches over the past two seasons prior to her arrival and elevating
to the next level. She guides a program that won its first-ever MEAC
Tournament crown last season, and
she looks to continue building the
program toward the future.
Atlantic Sun, and made its second straight A-Sun Conference Tournament appearance. The Owls' performance led to Weatherington being
named the A-Sun Coach of the Year.
The year was highlighted by an eight-match winning streak, including
seven straight in conference play. Sabrita Gulley became KSU’s first
player to be named First Team All-Atlantic Sun. Alyssa Lang earned
Second Team All-Conference recognition, while Metroka and Camille
Pedraza were named to the A-Sun Conference All-Freshman Team.
The 2009 campaign marked a series of firsts for the Owls, as Asjia
Stokes became the first Owl to earn A-Sun Conference Player of the
In Weatherington’s first season, the Week honors. Gulley became KSU's first player to earn all-conference
Lady Pirates matched a program Div. honors when she was selected to the second team.
I record for wins in a season with 19,
going 10-2 in conference play to win their first-ever MEAC Northern
Kennesaw State also registered its first winning season in program hisDivision regular-season title. Hampton, which also went undefeated at
tory after posting a 17-12 record. The Owls also recorded a schoolhome for the first time in program history, also took its first-ever MEAC
record 11 conference wins and made their debut in the A-Sun ConferTournament crown, beating Coppin State in five sets for the title and the ence Tournament during their first year of eligibility.
automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
The 2011 season saw Kennesaw State record a 13-16 overall record,
The Lady Pirates, who led the nation in service aces as a team, drew
including an 8-5 conference mark, and a third consecutive A-Sun ConNo. 7 seed Stanford in the first round.
ference Tournament appearance. The year was highlighted by Lang
earning first team all-conference honors, Justine Young being named
Along the way, Weatherington saw junior rightside Vendula Strakova
second team all-conference and Metroka's selection to the A-Sun Connamed the MEAC Player of the Year – becoming the first Lady Pirate in ference's All-Academic Team.
history to win the award. Strakova, who led the nation in points in 2013,
was also named the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Kennesaw State made three straight conference tournament appearances under Weatherington.
Strakova, a five-time MEAC Player of the Week in 2013, also became
the first player in Hampton history to be recognized by the American
Weatherington came to Kennesaw State after six seasons at Butler,
Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), after earning National Player of including the last four as associate head coach. During that time, the
the Week honors on Sept. 3, the junior was named an Honorable Men- Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 90-86 (.511). While at Buttion All-American and All-East Region.
ler, Weatherington worked as the program’s recruiting coordinator off the
court and with the middle blockers on the court.
She was also named Player of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).
In 2008, the Bulldogs finished with 2.31 blocks per set, good for second
in the Horizon League.
Junior outside hitter Krista Kraskura and senior setter Bibiany Fonseca
were each named Second Team All-MEAC.
Prior to her time at Butler, Weatherington was the top assistant coach at
Clemson for two seasons. She joined the Tigers' coaching staff following
In addition, the Lady Pirates won the Team Academic Award from the
coaching stints at Duke and Iowa State.
AVCA. The MEAC also awarded nine members of the volleyball team,
naming them 2013-14 All-Academic honorees.
While at Butler and Clemson, Weatherington helped recruit and coach
four All-Americans.
Weatherington came to Hampton from Kennesaw State, where she
spent four seasons. With Weatherington at the helm, the Owls have
While at Iowa State, Weatherington made an impact off the court, servcompiled an overall record of 63-56 (.529), and established singleing on the Iowa Heart Volleyball Association Board of Directors, an orseason school records for wins (17), in 2009 and 2010, and winning
ganization responsible for revitalizing interest in volleyball within the
percentage (.607) in 2010.
community. She also was head coach and technical director of the Cyclone Cylect Volleyball Club and served as the instructional coach for
In 2012, Weatherington led Kennesaw State to a 16-17 overall record,
the USA Volleyball Youth National Team Trials from 1997-2000.
including a 5-13 mark in the Atlantic Sun. Junior setter Sara Metroka
was named to the Atlantic Sun’s All-Academic Team.
During the spring of 2004, Weatherington was the head coach of the
Pike Fire Inferno 18 Elite Volleyball team.
The high watermark under Weatherington came in 2010, when Kennesaw State posted a 17-11 overall record, including a 9-1 mark in the
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach Karen Weatherington
Weatherington's involvement in volleyball also included serving as an
instructor at the Midwest Volleyball Instructors Elite Volleyball Camp and
as a presenter at the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)
Convention Minority Coaches Clinic from 1997-2003.
Weatherington’s coaching career began 17 years ago, when she was
the top assistant coach at her alma mater, New Mexico State. A standout with the Aggies, Weatherington competed internationally, traveling to
Russia, Finland, and Sweden prior to her final season at New Mexico
State.
A well-respected figure in the volleyball community, Weatherington has
been instrumental in the advancement of Division I women’s volleyball.
She became the Horizon League’s representative on the AVCA's Assistant Coaches Committee in the fall of 2004. One year later, she began a
three-year term as Assistant Coaches' Chair on the AVCA National
Board of Directors.
Weatherington also is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta public service
sorority, the AVCA (where she serves on the Minority Coaches Committee), the Black Coaches Association, USA Volleyball, the Women’s
Sports Foundation, the Alliance of Women Coaches, and the Graduate
NCAA Women Coaches Academy.
Weatherington graduated from New Mexico State in 1988 with a degree
in journalism, while she also double-minored in psychology and marketing. She completed her masters of science in education with an emphasis in instructional technology from Butler in 2006.
Weatherington has presented at conferences for the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Association and the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports
Association. She also participated on the NCAA/NCLR Think Tank on
Homophobia in Sport. Most recently, she presented at the AVCA Convention in Tampa, Fla., on a panel entitled “So You Want to Be a Head
Coach?”
She has also presented at conventions about Networking in Coaching
and Work/Life Balance for Coaching Moms, and she had an article published in Coaching Volleyball magazine titled “The Making of a Middle:
Challenge Training for Middle Blockers.”
In addition, Weatherington has conducted training presentations on defensive systems, middle blockers, opponent scouting, attack transition,
serve and serving response, and serving to score.
Weatherington and her husband Eddie have a 12-year old daughter,
Zoe.
Weatherington By The Numbers
School
Hampton
Hampton
Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State
Total
Year
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
5+ years
Overall
11-9
19-11
16-17
13-16
17-11
17-12
93-76
Pct.
.550
.633
.485
.448
.607
.586
.550
Conf.
6-0
10-2
5-13
8-5
9-1
11-10
49-31
Pct.
1.000
.833
.278
.615
.900
.524
.613
Weatherington Records By Opponent*
Boston College
0-1
Bradley
1-0
Bryant
1-0
Campbell
0-1
Coppin State#
3-1
DePaul
1-0
Delaware State#
2-0
Evansville
1-0
Fairfield
0-1
George Washington
1-0
Georgetown
0-1
Howard#
4-0
James Madison
0-1
Maryland Eastern Shore#
3-0
Morehead State
0-1
Morgan State#
2-1
Murray State
1-0
New Mexico State
0-1
Norfolk State#
4-0
North Carolina Central
1-0
Northern Colorado
0-1
Presbyterian
0-1
Radford
0-1
South Carolina State
1-0
South Dakota State
1-0
Southeastern Louisiana
1-0
Stanford
0-1
Stony Brook
1-0
Texas-El Paso
0-1
UC Davis
0-1
Virginia Commonwealth
0-2
West Virginia
0-1
William & Mary
1-1
Wyoming
0-1
*at Hampton
#MEAC Northern Division opponent
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
2014 Statistics and Results
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
2014 Category Leaders
2014 HAMPTON UNIVERSITY VOLLEYBALL
Last Time Out For the Lady Pirates...