Fisk, Huston-Tillotson claim Week 8 HBCUAC Volleyball Weekly Honors

NEW ORLEANS - October 5, 2025 - Fisk University's Laila Esters wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Attacker of the Week. Kaia Barnett earns Setter of the Week. Shelby Chamblin takes home Newcomer of the Week. Huston-Tillotson University's Taylor Fisher garners Defender of the Week. Jordis Taylor captures Freshman of the Week. The women were honored for their performance between September 29-October 5, the conference announced on Monday.

Esters recorded three-double digit kill performances, totaling 42 for the week - averaging 3.50 per set. She recorded a career-high 17 against Oakland City on Saturday and hit .429 in 77 attempts. Esters also contributed 10 blocks. Her performance led Fisk to three victories. 

Fisher recorded 40 digs in two matches last week. She recorded a double-double with 27 digs and 11 assists to help the Rams to a four-set victory over Paul Quinn College, to remain unbeaten in HBCUAC play. This is Fisher's second weekly honor.

Barnett recorded 81 assists in three matches last week. She had a high of 35 in a five-set win over Freed-Hardeman University, marking the second time the Lady Bulldogs prevailed over the Lions. Barnett contributed defensively with 18 digs. This is her fourth weekly honor.

Taylor averaged 6.43 assists per set in two matches last week. She recorded a double-double with 32 assists and 30 digs in the four-set victory over Paul Quinn College on Friday. She added six kills and four service aces. This is Taylor's second weekly honor.

Chamblin recorded 30 kills and 26 digs in three matches for Fisk last week. She had a high of 15 kills against Freed-Hardeman on Tuesday and recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 19 digs against Oakland City on Saturday. This is Chamblin's eighth honor.

Additional volleyball weekly nominees: Taszia Adkinson (SUNO), Musha Alhassan (Rust), Amarie Bankhead (Rust), Samaria Berry (SUNO), Morgan Bone (Oakwood), Cameryn Bucknor (Oakwood), Nadia Cortez (Wiley), Nialah Gupton (Fisk), Cai Hales (SUNO), Armoni Harris (SUNO), Madison Herrera (Wiley), Jolandra Hill (Rust), Malaysia Hudson (SUNO), Jae Jemmott (Wiley), Christlove Lature (Philander Smith), Chennille McClellan (Fisk), Cameryn Morris (Rust), Lindsey Morris (Huston-Tillotson), Jakayla Morrow (Paul Quinn), Jasmyne Mumphrey (Dillard), Spirit Phipps (Paul Quinn), Ashley Sanchez (Paul Quinn), Ja'Niya Sanders (Philander Smith), Nanelyis Sosa-Moreno (Dillard), Cadence Thomas (Dillard), Kristian Thomas (Dillard), Carrie Weston (Paul Quinn), Haya Winfield (Rust), Alexis Wiley (Oakwood), Essence Wren (Philander Smith)

2025 HBCUAC Volleyball Players of the Week

About the 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), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), 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 soccer, 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.