Nov. 2, 2005

ELIZABETH CITY, NC- Tanika Hudgins, a freshman outside hitter on the Elizabeth City State University volleyball team, has been named the 2005 CIAA Rookie of the Year.

Hudgins, a Physical Education major from Rocky Mount, NC, led the Lady Vikings to .500 record (11-11 overall), good for a third place finish (6-4) in the CIAA Eastern Division. She led ECSU in kills (213) and kills per game (2.60) and ranked second in digs (205) and service aces (54). In the CIAA, Hudgins ranks 8th overall in digs and was named Rookie of the Week three times. The Lady Vikings improved on the previous year's record by five games have qualified for the CIAA Volleyball Tournament for the first time since 2001.

On Thursday, November 3rd, Hudgins and the other 2005 honorees will be recognized at the CIAA Volleyball Championship Luncheon at the Radisson Hotel-Research Triangle Park in Durham, NC. For more information on the 2005 Fall Championships, visit www.theciaa.com. For more information on ECSU athletics, log onto www.ecsuvikings.com.