BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its 2026 Preseason All-SWAC Teams and Individual Awards, as voted by the league head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama A&M’s, Rayishon Jackman was voted as the Preseason Player of the Year while Kaleigh Williams from Bethune-Cookman snags the SWAC Preseason Blocker of the Year. Alabama A&M’s Kelani Talakai earned the Preseason Libero of the Year and Kamrynn Clay sets the tone as the Preseason Setter of the Year to round out the individual award selections.

SWAC Preseason Player of the Year: Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M
The Junior from Taipei, Taiwan was voted as the 2026 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year after a solid outing with Alabama A&M during the 2025 season where Jackman led Alabama A&M with 386 kills. Jackman bolstered the offense contributing to up 436.5 points on the year while adding 3.33 kills per set. Displaying her versatility, Jackman was third on the Lady Bulldogs with 39 service aces and defensively added 312 digs. Contributing to a 19 win season and an 11 win improvement, Rayishon Jackman returns to the team with much anticipation to build on another season with the Lady Bulldogs as the 2026 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
SWAC Preseason Blocker of the Year: Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
The Sophomore from Columbia, Maryland enters the 2026 season as the SWAC Preseason Blocker of the Year following a stellar freshman season where she was named All-SWAC First Team and Postseason Blocker of the Year. Williams led the Wildcats with 123 total blocks (18 solo, 105 assisted) culminating 1.14 blocks per set. Offensively, Kaleigh Williams contributed 134 kills with a .257 attack percentage while adding 1.24 kills per set. Williams led Bethune-Cookman with 32 service aces while contributing 236.5 points. As Kaleigh Williams looks to build on her collegiate career in the new season, she adds another accolade to her young career.
 
SWAC Preseason Libero of the Year: Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
The Sophomore from Providence, Utah enters the new campaign as the SWAC Preseason Libero of the Year following a stellar freshman season where she led the Lady Bulldogs with 494 digs, averaging 4.15 digs per set (ranked #88 in the NCAA). Talakai added 100 assists and was second on Alabama A&M with 40 service aces, helping contribute to 44 points throughout the year. Kelani Talakai’s prowess on the defensive end gave her a top 50 ranking in NCAA Division I Volleyball in the Digs category during her freshman year. As Talakai returns for another season, she adds another accolade to her resume.
 
SWAC Preseason Setter of the Year: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
The Junior from Saint Hedwig, Texas appeared in 30 matches and 106 sets played during her sophomore season while leading Alabama State with 818 assists – averaging 7.17 assists per set. Clay provided contributions with 27 service aces, 187 digs and 13 total blocks. Clay’s sophomore season proved to catch the attention of fellow peers in the conference as she was voted 2025 SWAC Postseason Setter of the Year and All-SWAC First Team. Kamrynn Clay comes into the new campaign with another accolade to her resume as she prepares to take the court with the Hornets as the SWAC Preseason Setter of the Year.
 

A full listing of the preseason selections can be found below.
 
SWAC Preseason Player of the Year
Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M

SWAC Preseason Blocker of the Year
Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
 
SWAC Preseason Libero of the Year
Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
 
SWAC Preseason Setter of the Year
Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
 
 
Preseason All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter:  LaDonna Trantham, Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Amya Jennings, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: D'Mya Hill, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaylen Hines, Alabama State
Setter: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
Setter: Briana Smith, Alabama A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
 
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Hope Briggs, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Kenya Lucas, Grambling State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Valencia Wilder, Prairie View A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Sydney Whitfield, Florida A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Iyonna Sherwood, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Farah Farooq, Florida A&M
Setter: Makenzie Taylor, Florida A&M
Setter: Tayler Ruffin, Prairie View A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Najah Harris, Southern
 
 
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.