NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State freshman opposite hitter
Paola Matos was named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team on Wednesday when the conference revealed the 2020 volleyball All-MEAC honors.
Matos becomes NSU's first all-rookie honoree since the league adopted the all-rookie team in 2016 and the sixth different player to earn all-MEAC honors since joining the league. She gives the Spartans their first all-conference player of any kind since Jessica Johnson earned a second-team nod in 2016.
A native of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Matos ranked second on the team with 1.62 kills per set, hitting .188. She also added 1.05 digs and 0.57 blocks after appearing in all 21 sets on the season. She totaled 34 kills, 22 digs, 12 blocks and two assists while starting five of NSU's six matches.
She was named MEAC Rookie of the Week on Jan. 25 after posting eight kills and season highs of nine digs and three blocks in her collegiate debut, a 3-2 win over George Mason to start the year. Matos later added a season-high nine kills on Feb. 11 at North Carolina A&T.
After the fall 2020 season was postponed to the spring of 2021, this year's MEAC Volleyball Championship and all-conference teams will still be considered the 2020 versions for record-keeping purposes.
Eddie Brewer of North Carolina A&T repeated as the MEAC Player of the Year. Coppin State took home every other award, including Rookie of the Year in Chudear Tut and Coach of the Year in Tim Walsh. New this season, the league handed out Setter of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Those went to the CSU duo of Kareemah Hopkins and libero Ashley Roman, respectively.
The Spartans went 1-5 this year, 0-2 in the MEAC before the program opted out of the remainder of the 2021 spring season on Feb. 26 due to COVID-19.
2020 Volleyball All-MEAC Teams
Player of the Year: Edie Brewer, North Carolina A&T
Rookie of the Year: Chudear Tut, Coppin State
Setter Player of the Year: Kareemah Hopkins, Coppin State
Defensive Player of the Year: Ashley Roman, Coppin State
Coach of the Year: Tim Walsh, Coppin State
First Team
| Name |
School |
Ht. |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Miajavon Coleman |
Coppin State |
5-10 |
OH |
Jr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Ashley Roman |
Coppin State |
5-5 |
L/DS |
So. |
Isabela, Puerto Rico |
| Sydney Lewis |
Delaware State |
6-1 |
MB |
So. |
Bowie, Md. |
| Edie Brewer |
North Carolina A&T |
6-0 |
S/RS |
Sr. |
West Chester, Ohio |
| Courteney Pitt |
North Carolina A&T |
6-1 |
OH |
Sr. |
Farmville, N.C. |
| Fatimah Shabazz |
North Carolina A&T |
6-0 |
RS |
R-Jr. |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Ammaarah Williams |
North Carolina Central |
6-0 |
MB |
R-Jr. |
Cleveland, Ohio |
Second Team
| Name |
School |
Ht. |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Paola Caten |
Coppin State |
5-11 |
OH/RS |
So. |
Tampa, Fla. |
| Kareemah Hopkins |
Coppin State |
5-11 |
S |
Jr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| Chudear Tut |
Coppin State |
6-2 |
MB |
Fr. |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Mayah Ngundam |
Delaware State |
5-9 |
OH |
Sr. |
Bowie, Md. |
| Valeria Otero |
Delaware State |
5-9 |
OH |
Fr. |
Manati, Puerto Rico |
| Tyler Roberson |
Morgan State |
5-11 |
OH |
Sr. |
Elkhart, Ind. |
| Andrea Laboy-Rivera |
North Carolina A&T |
5-5 |
L |
Jr. |
Coamo, Puerto Rico |
All-Rookie Team
| Name |
School |
Ht. |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Chudear Tut |
Coppin State |
6-2 |
MB |
Fr. |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Valeria Otero |
Delaware State |
5-9 |
OH |
Fr. |
Manati, Puerto Rico |
| Jennifer Bolden |
Howard |
6-0 |
OH |
Fr. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Amari Patterson |
Howard |
5-3 |
L |
Fr. |
Waukegan, Ill. |
| Paola Matos |
Norfolk State |
5-11 |
Opp |
Fr. |
Fajardo, Puerto Rico |
| Lauren Janok |
North Carolina Central |
5-11 |
S |
Fr. |
Rougemont, N.C. |
