Philander Smith trio, Talladega, Fisk garner Week 11 HBCUAC Honors

NEW ORLEANS - October 27, 2025 - Philander Smith University outside hitter Ja'Niya Sanders captures Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Attacker of the Week. Libero Christlove Lature earns Defender of the Week. Essence Wren claims Setter of the Week. Talladega College outside hitter and defensive specialist Jordyn Lacey takes home Freshman of the Week. Fisk University's Shelby Chamblin wins Newcomer of the Week. The ladies were honored for their performance between October 20-26, the conference announced on Monday.

Sanders recorded three double-digit kill performances and contributed 11 blocks to help the Panthers win three matches. She had 14 kills and four blocks on Thursday, to help them knock off Huston-Tillotson University which was tied for first in the West. She followed that performance with 14 kills and two blocks in Saturday's victory against Paul Quinn College. Her performance put Philander Smith in position to move up to third in the conference.

Lature had three double-digit dig performances and recorded two 20-plus dig matches against HBCUAC opponents. She had a high of 26 digs in Philander Smith's victory over Huston-Tillotson University. Lature averaged five digs per set and had a receiving percentage of 96.3.

Wren averaged 8.42 assists per set in three matches and 9.13 in two conference matches. She posted 44 assists in the victory over Huston-Tillotson on Thursday. On Saturday, Wren put up 29 in a sweep over Paul Quinn College. She recorded double-doubles against Central Baptist College on Tuesday and Huston-Tillotson.

Lacey tallied 16 digs in two matches and successfully received 20 balls. She also contributed offensively with five service aces.

Chamblin posted 14 kills and seven service aces in two matches last week. She hit .407 on 27 attempts. Chamblin leads the HBCUAC in kills. This is her 10th weekly honor.

Additional volleyball weekly nominees: Musha Alhassan (Rust), Kaia Barnett (Fisk), Neveah Bax (Dillard), Lauren Bennett (Rust), Cameryn Bucknor (Oakwood), Taylor Cousar (Tougaloo), Sha'Niya Cribbs (Talladega), Paige Eason (Stillman), Briyith Echeverri (Talladega), Delaney Farver (Fisk), Jakayla Foulks (Rust), Cameron Gatlin (Tougaloo), Mykaylah Gray (Rust), Marai Guinyard (Wiley), A'Niyah Harrison (Paul Quinn), Kamyah Love (Tougaloo), Jakayla Morrow (Paul Quinn), Khara Morton (Dillard), Kamaria Murray (Oakwood), Trenity Pender (Dillard), Spirit Phipps (Paul Quinn), Taquoia Rounds (Talladega), Zoey Sales (Stillman), Ashley Sanchez (Paul Quinn), Nanyelis Sosa-Moreno (Dillard), Morgan Walters (Fisk), Karen White (Stillman), Alexis Wiley (Oakwood)

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.