NORFOLK, Va. — Men's tennis player Miroslav Vlcek (Vyskov, Czech Republic) was named the Norfolk State University Male Athlete of the Year, softball player Micki Rodriguez (Newport News, Va.) was named Female Athlete of the Year and women's tennis player Lerissa Morris (Kingstown, SVG) took home Scholar Athlete of the Year honors at the department's awards banquet on Sunday evening.
Vlcek, a junior, became the first Spartan male or female to be named MEAC Tennis Player of the Year this season. Vlcek went 9-2 at No. 1 singles for the Spartans, winning his final nine matches of the season. He also compiled an 8-3 record at No. 1 doubles, mostly with countryman Petr Krakora (Brno, Czech Republic), to help the Spartans to the MEAC Championship semifinals. Vlcek did not lose against conference opponents, going 4-0.
Vlcek, a member of the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team, has a 3.58 GPA and is majoring in business management. He is also a member of the NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Rodriguez is a senior pitcher and infielder on the Spartans' softball team. A four-year letterwinner, Rodriguez is batting .277 with five doubles, one triple, three home runs and 30 RBI this season. Rodriguez, who set the single-season Division I school record with 11 homers in 2006, is one of the more feared hitters in the conference, evidenced by her 30 walks drawn. She is also tied for the team-lead with seven pitching victories and has tossed a team-high 12 complete games and three shutouts. Rodriguez has logged a team-high 131 innings this season and struck out 91 batters, fifth-most in the MEAC.
Rodriguez is majoring in kinesiotherapy. She is also very active in the community, including serving as the vice president for the NSU SAAC.
Morris has the highest GPA for any non-freshman Spartan student-athlete. She boasts a 3.82 GPA and is majoring in biology. Morris, a junior, was also 9-3 in singles competition in helping the Spartan women advance to the MEAC Championship final for the first time since 2002. She was named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team as well as the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.
Other Awards:
Community/Alumni Awards
Rosa Alexander Scholarship (athlete with min. GPA: 3.0): Jewel White, softball
James D. Gill Scholarship (athlete with min. GPA: 2.5): Brett Dodd, men's track
Mid-Atlantic Coca-Cola Awards (Players of the Year): Tony Murphy, men's basketball; Raychele Payne, women's basketball; Jamar Johnson, football
Optima Family Care Women's Basketball Defensive Player Award: Ebony Gibbs
Samuel F. Coppage Award (football, top OL): Jason Kressen
Walter M. Kindred Award (football, top DL): Dennis Marsh
Vince Lombardi Award (football; leadership, character, academics, and ability): Maguell Davis
Joseph G. Echols Award (baseball player, for academics and achievement): Leon Schabacker
Joseph G. Echols Memorial Scholarship (senior who is attending grad. school): Marquez Davis, football
Barbara B. Wright Award (outstanding women's track athlete): Rachel Griffin
Jimmy Johnson (outstanding men's track athlete): Troy Wilkerson
Marvin Prince Track Awards (outstanding track athletes): Candace Shoates, Raymond Brown
Individual Sports Team Awards
Men's Cross Country
Most Improved: Hillary Cheruiyot
MVP: Dominic Luka
Men's Track and Field
Rookie of the Year: Corey Vinston
MVP: Marlon Woods
Women's Cross Country, Track and Field
Rookie of the Year: Jennifer Chichester
Most Improved: Tia Miles
Coached Award: Victoria Faulkner
Football
Special Teams MVP: Andre Twine
Coaches Award (Offense): Casey Hansen
Coaches Award (Defense): Terrell Whitehead
MVP: Don Carey
Women's Volleyball
Coaches Award: Vanessa Faircloth
MVP: Shardonay Blueford
Men's Basketball
Most Improved: Michael Deloach
MVP: Tony Murphy
Women's Basketball
Rookie of the Year: Raychele Payne
Coaches Award: Mo'Nique Redhead
Women's Bowling
Most Improved: Tiffany Hunt
MVP: Cathryn Myrick
Men's Tennis
Most Improved: Petr Krakora
MVP: Miroslav Vlcek
Women's Tennis
Most Improved: Ashlee Daugherty
MVP: Lerissa Morris
Softball (TBA, at a later date)
Baseball
Rookie of the Year: John Lynch
MVP: John Boyd
