Weekly Notes

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Hampton University volleyball team will open the 2014 season in the Windy City this weekend, competing in the DePaul Invitational on Friday and Saturday in the McGrath-Phillips Arena. The tournament field includes Bradley, Stony Brook, and the host Blue Demons.
 
Weekend Schedule: Hampton vs. Bradley, Friday at 5:30 p.m. EST; Hampton vs. Stony Brook, Saturday at 11 a.m. EST; Hampton at DePaul, Saturday at 8 p.m. EST.
Live Stats: Bradley, Stony Brook, DePaul.
Live Video: DePaul match only.
 
The Opponents: The Lady Pirates have never faced Bradley, Stony Brook, or DePaul.
 
Away From the Pirates Den: The Lady Pirates were a combined 12-11 in matches away from Holland Hall last season, going 5-8 in true road contests and 7-3 in neutral-site matches. Prior to the loss to Stanford in the NCAA Tournament, Hampton had won five straight matches away from Holland Hall.
 
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.
 
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. Florida A&M was picked to win the MEAC Southern Division.
 
Strakova Named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year: Senior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) 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 All-American 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).
 
Start the Countdown: Coming into the 2014 season, Strakova has 1,034 career kills at Hampton, which ranks her fifth in program history and makes her one of just five players ever to cross the 1,000-kill mark. She enters the season just 438 kills behind all-time record holder Chavanca Hoskins, who tallied 1,472 kills from 2003-06. She is 49 kills behind fourth-place Aaryn Harrison, who had 1,083 career kills from 2007-10. For perspective, Strakova tallied 626 kills last season.
 
Kraskura Named Second Team All-MEAC: As the Lady Pirates' No. 2 offensive threat, senior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) had a strong 2013 season — earning Second Team All-MEAC honors. She averaged 2.37 kills and 2.37 digs per set last season, and she recorded three double-doubles. Her season-high 19 kills came against Bryant, and she had a season-high 16 digs against Evansville.
 
Kocevska Nationally Ranked in Aces: On top of being one of the Lady Pirates' most improved players in 2013, senior middle blocker Marija Kocevska (SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia) 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.
 
Medina Broke Out in 2013: Junior outside hitter Allysa Medina (Menifee, Calif.) 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.
 
Thomas Gives Lady Pirates Local Flavor: Incoming freshman middle blocker Tatyana Thomas (Suffolk, Va.) 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.
 
Block Party: Six Lady Pirates recorded at least 30 total blocks last season, led by Kocevska, who had 100.0 total blocks. Strakova was second on the team with 69.0 total blocks in 2013, and Petra Parros — who is now on the Lady Pirates' coaching staff — was third with 64.0 total blocks. Senior outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (39.0), recently-graduated setter Bibiany Fonseca (38.0), and Kraskura (33.0) were also strong at the net in 2013. Hampton had more blocks than its opponent 11 times in 2013, going 10-1 in those matches.
 
Lady Pirates Led NCAA in Aces: The Lady Pirates were the best serving team in the nation in 2013, leading all Div. I programs with 1.95 aces per set. Hampton had a season-high 14 aces three times last season: at Norfolk State in the regular season, and against South Carolina State and Howard in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the MEAC Tournament. The Lady Pirates had more aces than their opponent 20 times in 2013, winning 16 of those matches.
 
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. Strakova, Kraskura, Maksimovic, and 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 (Kuldiga, Latvia), a setter, has Div. I experience thanks to her time at Virginia Tech. Medina is the team's lone junior.
 
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. In all of MEAC play last season, the Lady Pirates only lost one match in straight sets.
 
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 seasons, the Lady Pirates are 8-5 in matches that go the distance, and last season saw Hampton also nab five-set wins over William & Mary, Evansville, and Delaware State.
 
For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.