SUNO duo, Dillard, Paul Quinn, Wiley earn Week 9 Volleyball Awards

NEW ORLEANS - October 14, 2025 - Dillard University middle blocker Cadence Thomas wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Attacker of the Week. Southern University at New Orleans setter and right-side hitter Taszia Adkinson takes home Defender of the Week. Kendrece Dozier garners Newcomer of the Week. Paul Quinn College setter Spirit Phipps claims Setter of the Week. Wiley University setter Madison Herrera brings home Freshman of the Week. The women were recognized for their performance between October 6-12, the conference announced Tuesday.

Thomas recorded 19 kills to help the Lady Bleu Devils to two conference victories over Philander Smith University and Wiley University on Thursday and Saturday. She hit .500 for the week and contributed defensively with two solo blocks and four block assists.

Adkinson led the Knights with 39 digs in two matches. She recorded 19 and added three block assists to lead SUNO to a four-set win over Wiley on Friday. In two matches, she averaged 4.33 digs per set.

Phipps tallied 54 assists, leading the Lady Tigers to two victories. In a five-set win over Jarvis Christian University on Wednesday, she fell one dig short of a double-double with 29 assists and nine digs. Phipps posted 25 assists in a sweep over Tougaloo College on Friday. For the week she averaged 6.75 assists per set.

Herrera set a career-high 42 assists in three sets against Southern University at New Orleans on Friday. She also contributed seven digs. In Saturday's match against Dillard, she recorded nine assists in the third set. For the week Herrera averaged 12.75 assists per set. She moved into second in the HBCUAC with 6.46 assists per set.

Dozier notched 21 kills, recording a season-high 15 against Wiley on Friday. She added two blocks and four digs. For the week, she averaged 2.33 kills per set and posted a .280 hitting percentage.

Additional volleyball weekly nominees: Kaia Barnett (Fisk), Laila Beck (Paul Quinn), Samaria Berry (SUNO), Cameryn Bucknor (Oakwood), Azra Bute (Wilberforce), Zoie Chambers (Tougaloo), Shelby Chamblin (Fisk), Nadia Cortez (Wiley), Taylor Cousar (Tougaloo), Shaniya Cribbs (Talladega), Briyith Echeverri (Talladega), Taylor Fisher (Huston-Tillotson), Cameron Gatlin (Tougaloo), Nialah Gupton (Fisk), Jae Jemmott (Wiley), Kortni Johnson (Talladega), Reagan Jones (Fisk), Christlove Lature (Philander Smith), Kamryn Mix (Talladega), Lindsey Morris (Huston-Tillotson), Jakayla Morrow (Paul Quinn), Kamaria Murray (Oakwood), Yajanae Patt (Wilberforce), Trenity Pender (Dillard), Laela Price (Talladega), Ashley Sanchez (Paul Quinn), Ja'Niya Sanders (Philander Smith), Nanelyis Sosa-Moreno (Dillard), Jordis Taylor (Huston-Tillotson), Morgan Walters (Fisk), 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.