Talladega sweeps Final 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Players of the Week

NEW ORLEANS - November 4, 2024 - Talladega College's Re'na Ashley wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Attacker of the Week, Briyith Echeverri claims Defender of the Week and Giovana Costarelli brings home Setter of the Week for their performances from October 28-November 3, the conference announced on Monday.

Ashley takes her second weekly award. She recorded two double-digit kill performances with 11 in a five-set victory over Albany State University and 14 in a four-set victory over Life University. Ashley hit .392 for the week. The senior from Gainesville, Florida, ranks third in the conference with 260 kills and 3.02 per set and sixth in hitting percentage (.282).

Echeverri earns Defender of the Week for the fourth time. She recorded her 1,000th career dig against Life University on Friday. In two matches, Echeverri tallied 43 digs, for an average of 4.78 per set. The Columbian native ranks second with 434 digs and third with 4.30 digs per set.

Costarelli garners her second Setter of the Week honor. She tallied 47 assists for an average of 5.22 per set to lead Talladega to two victories. She ranks third in the conference with 549 assists and sixth with 5.28 assists per set. 

Talladega earned the top seed for the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship hosted by Visit Shreveport-Bossier from November 11-13. It finished the regular season with a 23-7 record.

Additional volleyball weekly nominees: Cameryn Bucknor (Oakwood), Ke'Ira Collier (Tougaloo), Taylor Cousar (Tougaloo), Christlove Lature (Philander Smith), Nanyelis Moreno (Dillard), Kamaria Murray (Oakwood), Trenity Pender (Dillard), Kaliyah Shavers (Tougaloo), Cadence Thomas (Dillard), Zarea Winn (Philander Smith), Essence Wren (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.