BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama A&M volleyball earned several preseason honors as the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2026 Preseason All-SWAC teams and individual awards.

Senior outside hitter Rayishon Jackman highlighted the Bulldogs' selections after being named the 2026 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year and earning a spot on the Preseason All-SWAC First Team. Last season, Jackman made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs, earning SWAC Newcomer of the Week honors five times along with a SWAC Offensive Player of the Week selection. She appeared in more than 100 sets, recording 355 kills and 284 digs while averaging 3.29 kills and 2.63 digs per set. Her standout performance from a season ago helped propel her to the conference's top preseason honor entering the 2026 campaign.

Jackman is joined on the first team by teammates Amya Jennings, Briana Smith and Kelani Talakai. Jennings earned first-team honors at outside/right side hitter alongside Jackman, while Smith was selected as one of two setters on the first team.

Talakai added an individual honor of her own, earning SWAC Preseason Libero of the Year recognition. She was also selected as the first-team libero/defensive specialist. Talakai, a two-time SWAC Libero of the Week selection, played in more than 100 sets last season, leading the Bulldogs with 451 digs while averaging 4.06 digs per set. She recorded 26 double-digit dig performances, highlighted by a career-high 40 digs against Bethune-Cookman.

Jennings earned first-team honors at outside/right side hitter alongside Jackman, while Smith was selected as one of two setters on the first team.

Alabama A&M's four First Team All-SWAC selections were the most of any program on the preseason first team.

Preseason Player of the Year
Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M


Preseason Blocker of the Year
Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman


Preseason Libero of the Year
Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M


Preseason Setter of the Year
Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State

Preseason All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter:  LaDonna Trantham, Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Amya Jennings, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: D'Mya Hill, Prairie View 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


Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Hope Briggs, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Kenya Lucas, Grambling State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Valencia Wilder, Prairie View A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Sydney Whitfield, Florida A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Iyonna Sherwood, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Farah Farooq, Florida A&M
Setter: Makenzie Taylor, Florida A&M
Setter: Tayler Ruffin, Prairie View A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Najah Harris, Southern

In addition to earning four preseason All-SWAC honors, Alabama A&M was picked to finish fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason poll, underscoring the high expectations for the Bulldogs entering the 2026 season.

1. Florida A&M – 200 (6)

2. Prairie View A&M – 190 (5)

3. Jackson State – 170

4. Alabama A&M – 167 (4)

5. Alabama State – 164 (1)

6. Bethune-Cookman – 154

7. Southern – 107 (1)

8. Texas Southern – 98

9. Grambling State – 93

10. Alcorn State – 52

11. Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 51

12. Mississippi Valley State - 32

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