Talladega Trio claims Week 5 HBCUAC Volleyball Awards

Franchesca Rivas, Briyith Echeverri and Giovana Costarelli helped lead Talladega to two victories last week.

September 16, 2024

NEW ORLEANS - September 16, 2024 - Talladega College sweeps the Historically Black College and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Week 5 Volleyball Awards with Franchesca Rivas claiming her second Attacker of the Week award, Briyith Echeverri wins her second Defender of the Week award and Giovana Costarelli earns Setter of the Week for matches played during September 9-15, the conference announced Monday.

Rivas, who previously won for August 26-September 1, led Talladega in hitting in two matches last week. She picked up 11 kills and four digs in an HBCUAC match against Oakwood University on Thursday. Rivas notched a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs in a four-set road victory over NCAA Division III school Albany State University on Friday.

Echeverri, who previously won for August 26-September 1, averaged 4.67 digs per set in Talladega's matches this week. She recorded 14 digs in a sweep over Oakwood University and 20 in the victory over Albany State. Echeverri contributed offensively with five aces and 11 assists. She leads the HBCUAC with 4.43 digs per set.

Costarelli averaged 6.33 assists per set in Talladega's victories. She tallied 19 assists against Oakwood and 26 against Albany State. She ranks third in the HBCUAC with 5.05 assists per set. The Tornadoes improved to 7-4 and 2-0 in HBCUAC play.

2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Players of the Week

Date	Attacker	Defender	Setter
Aug. 12-18	Reagan Jones, Fisk	Nialah Gupton, Fisk	Trinity Britt, Fisk
Aug. 19-25	Reagan Jones, Fisk	Armoni Harris, SUNO	Trinity Britt, Fisk
Aug. 26-Sept. 1	Franchesca Rivas, Talladega	Briyith Echeverri, Talladega	Trinity Britt, Fisk
Sept. 2-9	Reagan Jones, Fisk	Emily Powell, Stillman	Trinity Britt, Fisk
Sept. 9-15	Franchesca Rivas, Talladega	Briyith Echeverri, Talladega	Giovana Costarelli, Talladega

-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). GCAC 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, 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.