HBCUAC announces Week 11 Volleyball Players of the Week

NEW ORLEANS - October 28, 2024 - Franchesca Rivas of Talladega College wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Attacker of the Week, Nialah Gupton of Fisk University claims Defender of the Week and Essence Wren of Philander Smith University claims Setter of the Week for their performances from October 21-27, the conference announced on Monday.

Rivas claims her third award. She put up 20 kills, including 13 in a four-set victory over Fisk University - which clinched Talladega's second straight regular season title. She ranks second in the conference with 3.10 kills per set and third with 239 kills.

Gupton earns her third award. She tallied 45 digs in three matches, including a career-high 29 in a four-set match at Talladega College. Her performance helped Fisk win two of three matches. Gupton continues to lead the conference with 515 digs. She made only one receiving error in 46 attempts.

Wren picked up her second award. She averaged 8.40 assists per set in two conference victories. Wren put up 27 assists against Tougaloo College on Friday and 15 in two sets against Wiley University on Saturday. She ranks second in the conference with 8.07 assists per set. Her performance helped Philander Smith finish HBCUAC play at 10-4.

Additional volleyball weekly nominees: Myah Beasley (Oakwood), Chania Blair (Wilberforce), Trinity Britt (Fisk), Cameryn Bucknor (Oakwood), A'Lon Clark (SUNO), Ke'Ira Collier (Tougaloo), Giovana Costarelli (Talladega), Taylor Cousar (Tougaloo), Briyith Echeverri (Talladega), Jadha Ealy (Philander Smith), Tyramae Fautanu (Dillard), Maria Guinyard (Wiley), Armoni Harris (SUNO), Jamaya Johnson (Wilberforce), Reagan Jones (Fisk), Reagan McDowell (SUNO), Leah Monsegue (Wiley), Madisyn Moore (Wiley), Kamaria Murray (Oakwood), Trenity Pender (Dillard), Vanae Sapp (Dillard), Kaliyah Shavers (Tougaloo), Kamauri Sheppard (Wilberforce), Zarea Winn (Philander Smith)

2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Players of the Week

-HBCUAC-

About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.