This could only happen in a tiny college town like Princess Anne at a small school such as Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Jana Milin could accomplish the dream of every athlete, being named her league's Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, though she was virtually unnoticed by almost everybody outside Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference volleyball circles.
"I am so excited," said Milin, a freshman outside hitter/setter from Pula, Croatia. "This is a really big honor to me. It means so much to me."
Milin walked on campus in August and immediately helped transform a dead-end volleyball program into one of the elite teams in the MEAC. The Hawks went from three wins last season to 20-15 this season and reached the 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 second season in Princess Anne. The Hawks suffered through three winless seasons before Rens arrived last year.
While Milin dominated the MEAC with 554 kills, 330 digs and 102 service aces in 111 games this season, it was a rare quadruple double she pulled off against Coppin State on Sept. 28 that thrust her to national acclaim.
Milin racked up 16 kills, 14 assists, 10 aces and 11 digs in a 3-0 victory, giving her the first Division I quadruple double in nearly a year.
Yale's Alison Lungstrum had been the last Division I player to accomplish the feat on Oct. 12, 2001. Lungstrum had 12 kills, 56 assists, 14 digs and 10 blocks.
"That was a great individual accomplishment for her," Rens said. "Even more impressive to me is her leadership on the court and how she helps pull our team together."
Rens and Milin have a lot of help on the way next season with the announcement that junior college first-team All-American Chrissy Jacobs has signed a letter of intent with the Hawks.
No vote needed
There's no question which state college football coach deserves to join Ralph Friedgen as the two top coaches in Maryland this season.
It's Johns Hopkins' Jim Margraff, who guided the Blue Jays to a school-record nine wins (9-2) and their first postseason appearance in 116 years.
No, this Hopkins team was no fluke.
The players blended together under the guidance of Margraff to play fundamental football, with an emphasis on blocking and tackling without any of the showboating that is creeping into collegiate football.
The result was a second straight upset victory over McDaniel and a surprising win over Frostburg State last Saturday in the Bobcats' backyard of Cumberland.
Mr. Smith, I presume
Jon Smith came to Bowie State this season from Virginia Tech with a signature two-handed monster dunk. The 6-foot-8 senior center unveiled the crowd-pleasing dunk in glass-shattering style Tuesday night at Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C.
Running free on a fast break, Smith took a pass from guard Omarr Smith and tore down the backboard with the slam that ended the game.
A first for UMBC hoops
The UMBC men's and women's basketball teams are both 2-0 for the first time in school history.
This is the 36th season for UMBC men's basketball and the 35th year for women's basketball.
No one is surprised by the men's start, but the women are exceeding expectations under new coach Phil Stern and his Princeton offense.
"It's amazing," said UMBC sports information director Steve Levy. "The women are launching threes and running backdoor cuts. They have the fans buzzing."
Wash. College honors
Washington College sophomore field hockey forward Laura Scimeca has been named to the STX/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III All-South Region first team. Her teammate, junior back Missy Tine, made the Division III second team.