BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced weekly awards for Volleyball on Tuesday, September 22 where Florida A&M’s Sydney Whitfield was named Offensive Player of the Week and Tamia Coleman was named Defensive Player of the Week. Southern’s Penina Vito was named Setter of the Week and Alabama State’s, Makeda Edwards earned Newcomer of the Week.
 
SWAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week: Sydney Whitfield, Florida A&M
The Senior Outside Hitter from Magnolia, Texas was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Pelican Invitational in New Orleans, leading Florida A&M with 52 while averaging 3.25 kills per set. Whitfield added a new career-high with 24 kills in the four-set win over LSU-New Orleans along with adding a .354 hitting percentage in the match. Whitfield contributed 55.5 points through four matches played, added two service aces, and added a double-double in her career-high performance with 13 digs. As conference play is slated to begin, Sydney Whitfield is ranked second on the Lady Rattlers with 144 kills while having a top 10 ranking in the SWAC with 159.5 points. Whitfield’s big weekend in Florida A&M’s final non-conference battles earns her Offensive Player of the Week.
 
SWAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week: Tamia Coleman, Florida A&M
The Junior Right Side from West Palm Beach, Florida led Florida A&M in Blocks, including two consecutive matches five or more blocks. In the match against Idaho, Coleman added a new season-high with eight blocks (one solo, seven assisted). Coleman followed that performance with six blocks in the win over LSU-New Orleans while finishing the weekend with 16 total blocks and averaging 1.00 blocks per set. Coleman contributed 18.5 points and leads Florida A&M with 41 total blocks on the season. Following a weekend neutralizing opposing teams, Tamia Coleman earns her first weekly award of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Setter of the Week: Penina Vito, Southern
The Junior Setter from Phoenix, Arizona, led the league with 50 assists through three matches played and averaged 8.08 assists per set. Vito opened the weekend with 35 assists against Jacksonville State and followed with 40 against Nicholls. Through 12 matches played for Vito, she leads Southern with 201 assists (ranked #5 in SWAC) while averaging 5.91 assists per set. As Southern turns their attention to SWAC Play, Penina Vito earns her first weekly honor of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Newcomer of the Week: Makeda Edwards, Alabama State
The Junior from Lawrenceville, Georgia made her presence felt on the offensive end for Alabama State as she finished with 40 kills through three matches played including a season-high of 24 kills in the five-set thriller against Stetson. Edwards averaged 3.64 kills per set while adding one service ace, three blocks, and hitting at a .245 percentage. On the year, Edwards adds 55 kills while contributing 58.0 points through 27 sets played and 10 matches. Following a heavy contribution for Alabama State on the weekend, Makeda Edwards adds 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 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.