THE HILL | Graduate student Fatima Ramirez was selected to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason First Team, and the Bulldog volleyball program nabbed the eighth seed in the Predicted Order of Finish, the conference office announced Wednesday morning. Team and Individual award winners were voted on by the leagues head coaches and sports information directors.

Ramirez played and started in every match this season, saw action in 101 sets and was the team's leading scorer in 10 of 16 SWAC contests. The Belmopan, Belize native racked up 356 points, including a team-high 313 kills. Ramirez notched 25 service aces, the third highest on the team, and was the second Bulldog leader defensively, with 231 digs. Ramirez also tallied 27 blocks on the year. Ramirez saw a season-high 23 kills and 15 digs in the September 9 match against West Georgia and had her highest scoring conference match against in-state rival Alabama State.

Alabama A&M went 8-20 overall and 6-10 in Southwestern Atlantic Conference (SWAC) play last season.  AAMU ushers in a new era, bringing 12 new faces to the roster, including seven freshmen. The Maroon and White returns 2024 All-SWAC Second team honoree Fatima Ramirez, as well as Nissan Martinez, Saniya Spalding and Kemora Coachman.

The Maroon and White will kick off their regular season with the Betty Austin Invitational starting on Aug. 29. The sophomore edition of the Invitational will see Morgan State (MSU), South Carolina State (SCSU) and Delaware State (DSU) take on the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine-Bluff and the Jaguars of Southern University for a SWAC/MEAC Challenge. Alabama A&M will open play in the Invitational with a Battle of the Bulldogs, facing off against SCSU on Aug. 29 before playing the Bears of MSU. The Bulldogs will round out the Challenge by taking on DSU the following day (Aug. 30).

Florida A&M was selected to finish first, followed by Jackson State , Bethune-Cookman, Prairie View A&M and Alabama State to round out the top five preseason poll team selections. Southern was tabbed to finish in sixth place, while Grambling State, Alabama A&M, Texas Southern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State were selected to finish 7-12 respectively. 

2025 SWAC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish 

1. Florida A&M - 218 (13) 
2. Jackson State - 202 (1) 
3. Bethune-Cookman - 167 
4. Prairie View A&M- 148 (2) 
5. Alabama State - 146 (1) 
6. Southern - 124 (2) 
7. Grambling State - 122 
8. Alabama A&M - 111 
9. Texas Southern - 107 
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 63 
11. Alcorn State- 41 
12. Mississippi Valley State- 33 

 *First place votes listed in parenthesis 

Player of the Year 
Kylee Owens, Prairie View A&M  
 
Blocker of the Year 
Kaylen Hines, Alabama State 
  
Libero of the Year 
Dylan Hoskins, Florida A&M 
  
Setter of the Year 
Karys Dove, Jackson State  
  
All-SWAC First Team 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Kylee Owens, Prairie View A&M 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jayden James, Jackson State 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Fatima Ramirez, Alabama A&M 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Iyonnie Sanford, Florida A&M 
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaylen Hines, Alabama State 
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kyra Dove, Jackson State 
Setter: Karys Dove, Jackson State  
Setter: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State 
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Dylan Hoskins, Florida A&M 
  
All-SWAC Second Team 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Hope Briggs, Jackson State 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: D'Mya Hill, Prairie View A&M 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jyriah Morgan, Alabama State 
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Mecca Freeman, Bethune-Cookman 
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Farah Farooq, Florida A&M 
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Ariel Simmons, Bethune-Cookman 
Setter: Mackenzie Taylor, Florida A&M 
Setter: Naija Gadis, Jackson State 
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Rylee Davis, Bethune-Cookman 

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