Milin set pace for UMES’ record volleyball season
She was named league’s Rookie and Player of Year
By Bill Free
Sun Staff
November 29, 2002
This could only happen in a tiny college town like Princess Anne at asmall school such as Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Jana Milin could accomplish the dream of every athlete, being named herleague’s Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, though she wasvirtually unnoticed by almost everybody outside Mid-Eastern AthleticConference volleyball circles.
“I am so excited,” said Milin, a freshman outside hitter/setter fromPula, Croatia. “This is a really big honor to me. It means so much tome.”
Milin walked on campus in August and immediately helped transform adead-end volleyball program into one of the elite teams in the MEAC. TheHawks went from three wins last season to 20-15 this season and reachedthe conference tournament semifinals.
Season-long nemesis Morgan State ended UMES’ run in the MEAC semis, 3-0,but UMES coach Toby Rens was chosen MEAC Coach of the Year in his secondseason in Princess Anne. The Hawks suffered through three winlessseasons before Rens arrived last year.
While Milin dominated the MEAC with 554 kills, 330 digs and 102 serviceaces in 111 games this season, it was a rare quadruple double she pulledoff against Coppin State on Sept. 28 that thrust her to nationalacclaim.
Milin racked up 16 kills, 14 assists, 10 aces and 11 digs in a 3-0victory, giving her the first Division I quadruple double in nearly ayear.
Yale’s Alison Lungstrum had been the last Division I player toaccomplish the feat on Oct. 12, 2001. Lungstrum had 12 kills, 56assists, 14 digs and 10 blocks.
“That was a great individual accomplishment for her,” Rens said. “Evenmore impressive to me is her leadership on the court and how she helpspull our team together.”
Rens and Milin have a lot of help on the way next season with theannouncement that junior college first-team All-American Chrissy Jacobshas signed a letter of intent with the Hawks.