BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama A&M University sophomore outside hitter Rayishon Jackman and freshman libero Kelani Talakai earned Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Volleyball postseason honors, the conference announced on Thursday evening.
 
Jackman was selected the SWAC's Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team honors. Talakai was named the SWAC's Libero of the Year award, while also receiving First Team recognition. 
 
Jackman, a five-time SWAC Newcomer of the Week selection and also earned the SWAC's Offensive Player of the Week honor on Oct. 8, has played in more than 100 sets, posting 355 kills and 284 digs. She averaged 3.29 kills and 2.63 digs per set. 
 
The Taipei Taiwan native registered 17 double-digit kill performances, including a career-high 23 against Bethune-Cookman. She has 13 double-digit dig performances, with a career-high 20 twice. In addition, she registered 10 double-double matches.
 
A two-time SWAC Libero of the Week performer, Talakai played in more than 100 sets, logging a team-high 451 digs, along with 88 assists. The Providence, Utah native averaged 4.06 digs per set. She recorded 26 double-digit dig performances, including a career-best 40 against Bethune-Cookman.
 
Jackson State's Jayden James was selected the SWAC's Player of the Year. Kaleigh Williams, of Bethune-Cookman, and Kamrynn Clay, of Alabama State, earned Blocker of the Year and Setter of the Year, respectively. Florida A&M's LaDonna Trantham was selected the Freshman of the Year. Dottie Hampton, of Prairie View A&M, was chosen as the SWAC Coach of the Year.
 
Alabama A&M opens the 2025 SWAC Volleyball Tournament as the No. 5 seed and will meet No. 4 seed Bethune-Cookman on Friday in the quarterfinals. First serve against the Wildcats is set for 12:30 p.m. (central) from the Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Fla. and streamed on SWAC TV.
 
SWAC POSTSEASON VOLLEYBALL AWARDS
Coach of the Year
Dottie Hampton, Prairie View A&M
 
Player of the Year
Jayden James, Jackson State

Blocker of the Year
Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
 
Libero of the Year
Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
 
Setter of the Year
Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State 
 
Newcomer of the Year
Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M 
 
Freshman of the Year
LaDonna Trantham, Florida A&M
 
All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jayden James, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter:  Kylee Owens, Prairie View A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jyriah Morgan, Alabama State  
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaylen Hines, Alabama State
Setter: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
Setter: Briana Smith, Alabama A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Amya Jennings, Bethune-Cookman
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Ariana Brown, Southern
Outside/Right Side Hitter: LaDonna Trantham, Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: D'Mya Hill, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Iyonna Sherwood, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Farah Farooq, Florida A&M
Setter: MaKinzie Taplin, Prairie View A&M
Setter: Jordan Felix, Southern 
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Leila Smalls, Prairie View A&M
 
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