BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following opening weekend of action in Volleyball, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced weekly awards where Jackson State’s Hope Briggs earned Offensive Player of the Week and Giannelle Asomani swiped Defensive Player of the Week. Rounding out the awards, Florida A&M’s Makenzie Taylor garnered Setter of the Week along with Bethune-Cookman’s Moriah Johnson adding Newcomer of the Week.
 
SWAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week: Hope Briggs, Jackson State
The Senior Right-Side Hitter from Cedar Hill, Texas appeared in three matches totaling 40 kills with a weekend high of 16 while adding a .337 hitting percentage and 3.33 kills per set. Earning a Preseason All-SWAC selection, Hope Briggs helped Jackson State go 2-1 on the weekend with wins over Austin Peay and UT Martin, adding 16 kills in a five-set victory over Austin Peay while following with a 12-kill performance with a .391 hitting percentage. Briggs led the charge by contributing to 43.0 points while sitting at No. 3 in the SWAC in kills while being ranked first in hitting percentage. Following the impactful weekend, Briggs earns her first weekly honor in the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week: Giannelle Asomani, Jackson State
The Sophomore Defensive Specialist from McKinney, Texas appeared in all three matches played by the Lady Tigers on their opening weekend where she anchored the defense with 53 digs while averaging 4.42 digs per set. Asomani added a weekend-high of 19 digs in the five-set thriller win over Austin Peay while adding 18 against Kansas City and 16 against UT Martin. Giannelle Asomani contributed 5.0 points on the weekend with the second most service aces for Jackson State (five) and adding 14 assists. As Giannelle Asomani continues to grow in her sophomore season, she adds her first weekly honor in the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Setter of the Week: Makenzie Taylor, Florida A&M
The Junior Setter from Charlotte, North Carolina led the Lady Rattlers and the SWAC with 84 assists on the weekend with her highest being 33 against Delaware State. Taylor followed with 29 assists against Maryland Eastern Shore and 22 against NC Central while adding 7.64 assists per set. Garnering a Preseason All-SWAC selection and on the road to another championship, Makenzie Taylor picked up where she left off from the 2025 season contributing 14.0 points on the weekend and five service aces. As Taylor continues to provide her championship experience to a storied program, Makenzie Taylor fires away with her first weekly honor of the 2026 season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Newcomer of the Week: Moriah Johnson, Bethune-Cookman
The Sophomore Outside Hitter from Waller, Texas made her debut with the Lady Wildcats appearing in all three matches played where she filled the stats sheet with 43 kills, .255 hitting percentage, 25 digs and three service aces. Johnson led the charge with her best outing being 19 kills in a five-set thriller victory over Radford. Moriah Johnson’s debut with Bethune-Cookman was nearly duplicated to her match against Radford, adding 18 kills against Hampton while hitting .469. As Johnson adds more firepower to Bethune-Cookman, she earns her first weekly honor 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 competition is 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 (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.