Aug. 13, 2008

HAMPTON, VA- Three members of the Elizabeth City State University volleyball team have been named to the 2008 Pre-Season All-CIAA Volleyball Team as voted by the CIAA Volleyball Coaches Association.

Last season was a historic one for the Lady Vikings as they advanced to the semi-finals of the CIAA Tournament after posting the best record in school history (21-11) and captured their first ever divisional title. The Lady Vikings swept through the CIAA East and dropped only one conference match in 2007 to eventual champion Fayetteville State University.

Leading the way for the Lady Vikings on this year's Pre-Season team in junior outside hitter Eva Johnson, an automatic selection as last season she was a member of the All-CIAA First Team. In 2007 Johnson led the Lady Vikings in kills and ranked third in the conference in both kills and digs. She is currently on pace to become the first Lady Viking in school history to record 1,000 kills in a career. Joining Johnson on the Pre-Season team is fellow junior Ashley Tarasoff and sophomore Xie'Ara Maybank-Smallings. Last season Tarasoff was an All-CIAA second team selection, one year removed from being named the CIAA's Rookie of the Year (2006). In 2007 she ranked 7th in the CIAA in service aces and 5th in assists. Xie'Ara Maybank-Smallings was a member of both the 2007 CIAA All-Rookie and All-CIAA Second Teams. Impressively as a freshman she ranked second in the CIAA in hitting percentage behind Fayetteville State's Chekimbrell Jefferson, the 2007 CIAA Player of the Year.

The Lady Vikings will hold an exhibition match against Barton College on August 26 at the R.L. Vaughan Center. Game time is scheduled for 6:00pm. For the complete 2008 volleyball schedule and more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com.