BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced weekly honors on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, where Florida A&M’s Sydney Whitfield was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week followed by Southern’s Najah Harris swiping Defensive Player of the Week. Rounding out the awards, Bethune-Cookman’s Alaya Rhodes earned Newcomer of the Week and Alabama A&M’s Kaydee Smith achieved Setter of the Week.
 
SWAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week: Sydney Whitfield, Florida A&M
The Senior Outside Hitter from Magnolia, Texas adds her second consecutive weekly award as Whitfield finished the week with 41 kills, averaging 4.56 kills per set, hitting .367 through two matches and added two service aces. Whitfield opened SWAC Play with a season-best of 25 kills while hitting .524 and added a double-double with 10 digs in the win over Alabama State. In Sunday’s five-set thriller against Alabama A&M, Whitfield followed with 16 kills and tied a season-high with 13 digs. Whitfield contributed 46.0 points and 5.11 points per set while helping Florida A&M go 1-1 on the weekend. Following an explosive weekend on the offensive end, Whitfield adds her second consecutive weekly honor.
 
SWAC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week: Najah Harris, Southern
The Senior Libero from Dallas, Texas led the SWAC with 53 digs, helped Southern go 2-1 on the week including a SWAC Opener win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Harris opened the week with 12 digs against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and continued with a 20-dig performance against Arkansas-Pine Bluff along with 21 against Grambling State. Harris is ranked #18 in the NCAA with 247 digs on the season and now adds her first weekly honor of the season.
 
SWAC Volleyball Setter of the Week: Kaydee Smith, Alabama A&M
The Sophomore Setter from Mooresville, North Carolina was a key contributor to Alabama A&M’s 3-0 week including two wins in SWAC Play. Smith opened the week with 14 assists against Tennessee State and followed with 18 against Bethune-Cookman in the SWAC opener. Smith’s top performance of the week was a 32-assist performance in the Sunday five-setter classic against Florida A&M where the Lady Bulldogs took the win. Kaydee Smith continues to build on her sophomore season, adding 281 assists on the year and adds her first weekly honor of the season.

SWAC Volleyball Newcomer of the Week: Alaya Rhodes, Bethune-Cookman
The Outside Hitter from Memphis, Tennessee was a spark for Bethune-Cookman’s offense totaling 28 kills, 16 digs, four total blocks, four assists and one service as the Wildcats went 1-1 on the weekend. Rhodes highlighted the weekend with her season-high, adding 21 kills while hitting .436 in Sunday’s win over Alabama State for their first win in conference play. Rhodes leads Bethune-Cookman with 114 kills on the season and continues to breakout as she adds her first weekly honor of the year.


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.