BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced Volleyball weekly awards where Jackson State’s Hope Briggs was named Offensive Player of the Week followed by Southern’s Najah Harris earning Defensive Player of the Week. Bethune-Cookman’s Alaya Rhodes was named Newcomer of the Week and Alcorn State’s Daylin Saiki earned Setter of the Week.
 
SWAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week: Hope Briggs, Jackson State
The Senior from Cedar Hill, Texas displayed an efficient week of play with 38 kills through two matches in SWAC Play where the Lady Tigers went 2-0. Briggs added a career-high of 25 kills in the five-set thriller win over Alcorn State while hitting .605, contributing to 25.5 points. Briggs followed with 13 kills in Sunday’s win over Southern while hitting .545. Hope Briggs leads Jackson State with 242 kills, averaging 3.14 kills per set and contributing to 268.5 points. Briggs is ranked No. 4 in the SWAC, hitting .314 on the season and her efficient weekend earns her second weekly award of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week: Najah Harris, Southern
The Senior Libero from Dallas, Texas led the NCAA in total digs with 76, while being ranked No. 5 with 6.33 digs per set. Harris recorded 25 digs with a 100% reception rate while adding 31 digs in the win over Mississippi Valley State, marking her second 30-dig performance. Ending the weekend, Harris added 20 digs which marked her 10^th 20-dig performance on the year. Najah Harris continues to display being a top libero in the league along with the NCAA, earning her second weekly award of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Newcomer of the Week: Alaya Rhodes, Bethune-Cookman
The Junior Outside Hitter from Memphis, Tennessee continues to lead the Lady Wildcats on the offensive end, totaling 51 kills through three matches. Rhodes opened the week with 15 kills against Florida A&M and followed with a career-high of 24 kills in Friday’s win against Grambling State while hitting .419. Rhodes finished the week with 12 kills against Arkansas-Pine Bluff while hitting .375. Alaya Rhodes adds her third consecutive weekly honor while leading Bethune-Cookman with 198 kills.
 
SWAC Volleyball Setter of the Week: Daylin Saiki, Alcorn State
The Sophomore from Camarillo, California helped the Lady Braves go 2-1 on the week, totaling 107 assists, while averaging 8.13 assists per set. Saiki opened the week with 33 assists in the win over Southern and followed with a career-high of 53 assists in the five-set thriller against Jackson State. Saiki continued her stellar play with 21 assists in Sunday’s win over Mississippi Valley State. Daylin Saiki leads Alcorn State with 376 assists and ranked No. 3 in the SWAC. Saiki’s big weekend earns her first weekly award of the season.
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis. 

Women’s competitions are offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit the official website of the SWAC at www.swac.org.