Tipiana Named Preseason Player of the Year

July 31, 2003

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – The University of Miami’s Valeria Tipiana has been named the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year and the Hurricanes have been picked to finish second in the league as a team.

Along with Tipiana, teammate Mallorey James was also selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team.

In 2002 Tipiana was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year and was the conference’s only unanimous decision for All-BIG EAST First Team. The junior also made the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Northeast Region Team in 2002.

Tipiana recorded four double-doubles in 2002 including an impressive performance against Wisconsin the NCAA Tournament in which the outside hitter had 18 kills, 12 digs, and six blocks. She also struck for a better than .400 hitting percentage in 11 separate matches.

Junior Mallorey James was named The BIG EAST Setter of the Year for the 2002 season. James led the BIG EAST in assists per game with an average of 12.82, which ranked 29th nationally. Led by James, the Hurricanes finished the season first in the conference in kills per game (16.33) and second in hitting percentage (.257).

The Hurricanes were picked to finish second in the BIG EAST, as voted on by conference coaches with four first-place votes. Notre Dame received nine first-place votes and was picked as the favorite to win the BIG EAST following its seventh BIG EAST title in eight years last season.