NORFOLK, Va.– Howard junior Khaila Donaldson was named the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of t he Year, the conference announced today.

Bethune-Cookman’s Alana Handy and Florida A&M’s Nicole Abreu earned Co-Rookie of the Year honors, while Howard head coach Shaun Kupferberg was selected the Coach of the Year. All honors were voted on by the MEAC’s head volleyball coaches and sports information directors.

Donaldson leads the MEAC in kills per set (3.99) and points per set (4.65). She registered 10 double-doubles in kills and digs this season. Donaldson, who ranks 37^th nationally in points and 40^th in points per set, posted a season-best 24 kills in a conference match against Maryland Eastern Shore and became the school’s all-time career leader in kills (1,189). She earned the MEAC Player of the Week honor four times.

Handy ranks fifth in kills per set (3.34) and seventh in points per set (3.52). A three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week honoree, Handy recorded 10 double-doubles in kills and digs. Also, she registered a season-high 27 kills against Florida A&M and 19 digs against McNeese State.

Abreu ranks sixth in kills per set (3.22), sixth in points per set (3.61) and seventh in hitting percentage (.260). She registered nine double-doubles in kills and digs. Abreu posted a season-high 22 kills against North Florida and 22 digs versus Bethune-Cookman. She was named the MEAC Player of the Week on Sept. 26 and MEAC Rookie of the Week on Oct. 10.

Under the helm of Kupferberg, the Bison posted a 12-0 MEAC record and a 23-5 overall mark. In his fifth season, he guided Howard to a back-to-back northern divisional title and its first MEAC undefeated record since 1994 (8-0). Nationally, the Bison are first in opponent hitting percentage (0.124). Howard ranks first in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.233), opponent hitting percentage (.124), assists per set (11.63), kills per set (12.66) and blocks per set (2.11).

Joining Donaldson on the 2016 All-MEAC First Team are teammates Tamia Dockery and Morgan Marlbrough, Phylecia Armstrong (B-CU), Maria Yvette Garcia (FAMU), Ginna Lopez-Chavez (FAMU) and Samara Brown (NCAT).

The 2016 MEAC Volleyball Tournament begins Friday, November 18 at 10 a.m. in Princess Anne, Md. The competition continues on Saturday with the semifinal matches scheduled at noon and 3:30 p.m.

The volleyball championship tournament will conclude on Sunday, November 20, beginning at noon and will telecast live on ESPNU/ESPN3.

For more information on the 2016 MEAC Volleyball Championship and for complete results, log on to www.MEACsports.com