No. 1 Talladega Tornadoes Storm through the Competition to Claim GCAC Volleyball Championship Title
FINAL BOX SCORE
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LA – The Talladega Tornadoes conquered the Fisk University Bulldogs in straight sets, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16, to win the 2023 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Volleyball Championship, hosted by Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and Bossier Parish Community College and presented by Urban Edge Network on HBCU+. For the first time in decades, and under the helm of fifth-year Head Coach Jessica Enderle, the Bulldogs of Fisk University reached the championship match-up. Both the Tornadoes and Bulldogs brought high energy to the court as this year's top award winners battled for the title.
The Tornadoes, who did not drop a set in this year's GCAC Championship Tournament, earn an automatic bid to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 44th Annual Volleyball National Championship. Opening Round play begins November 18 at campus sites, followed by Pool Play November 29- December 1 and Bracket Play December 2-5.
The win gives Talladega its most wins in program history as they finish the regular season and tournament play with a 31-8 overall record. This is also Head Coach LaShaunda Spurgeon's first conference title.
No. 1 Talladega 3, No. 3 Fisk 0
Set 1 – The opening tone was set immediately in back-and-forth lead changes with the largest spread taking place at 21-17 on a block by Talladega's Josephine Gates. Fisk pushed back to set up a score of 23-21 before an unforced error then a deciding kill by Kortni Johnson allowed the Tornadoes to hold on for a 25-21 win.
Set 2 – The tight back-and-forth battle continued as Dega found the first true lead at 10-7. A missed serve after a punctual Bulldog timeout instantly changed the momentum in Fisk's favor. Gabrielle Huntley commandingly put the ball away to tie up the score at 12 apiece. Zyaire Prettie-Garrit came to compete, notching her eighth kill to take back the lead at 15-14. With Iyanla "Yani" Thigpen struggling to find the floor, the Tornadoes pulled away to 22-17. Untimely Bulldog errors, followed by Gates' second kill, gave Dega set number two by a score of 25-18.
Set 3 – Johnson got set three underway for Talladega with a big-time swing to earn her fifth kill of the match. Fisk grabbed a handful of points, but Dega was able to stretch their lead to a five-point advantage. Thigpen attempted to stop the bleeding with a stuff block at 9-5, but Talladega went on a flawless roll, upping the score to 17-11. Hoping to put an end to the run, Enderle called a much-needed timeout as the Bulldogs appeared out of sync. The Tornadoes continued to find the left sideline as Nedu Evans snagged her sixth and final kill of the evening to put a demanding 23-12 gap between the Tornadoes and the Bulldogs. Thigpen instantly answered with her fourth kill of the night. But the late push was not enough as a kill by Taquoia Rounds propelled the Tornadoes into the deciding win by a score of 25-16 for the sweep.
Prettie-Garrit remained true to her accolades for the Tornadoes leading all attackers with 12 kills followed by seven digs, assisting in one block and serving up one ace. Briyith Echeverri picked up an impressive 21 digs and set up two assists and two aces. Giovana Costarelli passed out double-digit assists with 18 and 14, respectively, adding a combined three additional points behind the service line.
Huntley and Kailynn Johnson came through offensively for the Bulldogs hitting a total of 13 kills. Johnson picked up five digs while Huntley snagged two and assisted in a block. Nebthet Re lived up to her nomination of Freshman and Setter of the Year as she finished the afternoon with a double-double, handing out 14 assists and tallying 13 digs. Jadyn Brackins got behind 16 digs, set up 5 assists, and served up an ace in the final match of her career.
(L-R: Jadyn Brackins, Yani Thigpen, Taquioa Rounds, Nedu Evans, Zyaire Prettie-Garrit. Not pictured: Taylor Hurst, Ja'Niya Sanders)
Tournament MVP
Zyaire Prettie-Garrit, Talladega College
All-Tournament Team
Taquioa Rounds, Talladega College
Nedu Evans, Talladega College
Taylor Hurst, Dillard University
Jadyn Brackins, Fisk University
IyanIa Thigpen, Fisk University
Ja'Niya Sanders, Philander Smith University
