BALTIMORE, Md. – Four North Carolina Central players earned postseason accolades at the MEAC Volleyball Awards Banquet on Wednesday, Nov. 19, as the All-MEAC and MEAC All-Rookie Teams were announced.

The conference's head coaches and sports information directors selected the squads.

Outside hitter Kamren Harper gained a spot on the first team while setter Manuela Cripa Nasser and libero Loren Johnson were named to the second team. Middle hitter Allyson Rouse received MEAC All-Rookie Team honors.

This was the second All-MEAC honor for Johnson and the first for Harper and Cripa Nasser. Harper was a MEAC All-Rookie pick as a freshman.

The All-MEAC team featured 16 players including nine on the first team, made up of four outside hitters, three middle blockers, one setter and one libero/defensive specialist. The second team comprised of the next seven players with the highest vote count and the All-Rookie Team consisted of the top six freshman vote-getters.

The awards capped an impressive regular season for the four Eagles, who led the team to their second 10-win season since NCCU became a full MEAC member in 2011. Harper ranks second in kills per set (3.94) and third in points per set (4.28) and Johnson is second in digs per set (3.92) in the MEAC. Cripa Nasser ranks second in assists per set (9.19) and Rouse is tied for eighth in blocks per set (0.72) and sixth in hitting percentage (.295).

In conference play, Harper tied for first in kills per set (4.13), ranked second in points per set (4.52) and ranked seventh in digs per set (3.00). Rouse tied for second in hitting percentage (.345) and Cripa Nasser was second in assists per set (9.43). Johnson finished second in digs per set (3.84).

Both Harper and Johnson set major program milestones this season. Harper became the first NCCU player to surpass 1,000 career kills and 500 career digs in the Division I era and Johnson is the first NCCU Division I player to amass over 1,000 career digs.

The four honorees will lead the Eagles, seeded fifth, against No. 4 seed Delaware State in a MEAC Championship quarterfinal match on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. inside the Physical Education Complex on the Coppin State campus. ESPN+ will livestream the match.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.


MEAC Volleyball 
2025 Postseason All-MEAC Teams 
As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors 
Player of The Year - TaKenya Stafford- OH- Coppin State 
Rookie of The Year- Cherisse Atilano- OH- Coppin State 
Setter of The Year- Leah Reeves- S- Howard 
Defensive Player of The Year: Coco Figueroa- L/DS- Coppin State 
Coach of the Year: Tim Walsh- Coppin State 
 
 
MEAC ALL-FIRST TEAM 

1. TaKenya Stafford- OH- Coppin State 
2. Gabrielle Gilbert- OH- Norfolk State 
3. Rya McKinnon- OH- Howard 
4. Kamren Harper- OH- NC Central 
5. Zenai Jethroe- MB- Howard 
6. Kayden Cupid- MB- Coppin State 
7. Jada Williams-MB- Morgan State 
8. Leah Reeves- S- Howard 
9. Coco Figueroa- L/DS- Coppin State 

 
 
MEAC ALL-SECOND TEAM 

1. Gerren Tomlin- OH- Delaware State 
2. Daniela Ferreira-OH- Morgan State 
3. Cherisse Atilano- OH- Coppin State 
4. Manuela Cripa Nasser- S- NC Central 
5. Alexys James- S- Howard 
6. Lilliana Montes- MB-Maryland Eastern Shore 
7. Loren Johnson-L- NC Central 

 
MEAC ALL-ROOKIE TEAM 
 

1. Cherisse Atilano- OH- Coppin State 
2. Alexys James- S- Howard 
3. Jayda Hutchins- S- UMES 
4. Allyson Rouse- NCCU 
5. Isabelle Brown-S- Morgan State 
6. Malaysia Shaw- Maryland Eastern Shore