Talladega repeats as Regular Season Champion, 2024 HBCUAC Championship Matchups Set
Talladega repeats as Regular Season Champion, 2024 HBCUAC Championship Matchups Set
NEW ORLEANS - November 5, 2024 - The Tornadoes of Talladega College (23-8, 14-1) continue their reign, clinching the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) regular season title for the second consecutive season. With the title, the Tornadoes secure the top seed in the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship and an automatic berth to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Volleyball Championship Opening Round.
For the second straight season, the HBCUAC Volleyball Championship will be hosted by Bossier Parish Community College and Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission from November 11-13 at Billy Montgomery Gymnasium. All matches will be broadcast live on the HBCUAC Channel through the streaming app HBCU Plus. Fans can download the app from Android, Apple, and other streaming devices' app stores. Along with the matches, fans can see the 2024 Regular Season Award Ceremony on Sunday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m. and the Tournament Award Ceremony on Wednesday, November 13 at 2:30 p.m.
The conference gained two automatic berths to the NAIA Volleyball Championship after expanding from nine teams to 11. The second automatic berth will go to the tournament champion or the runner-up if Talladega wins.
The Tornadoes locked up the title with 11 straight conference wins after suffering their only blemish, a five-set loss to Fisk University on September 21 in a rematch of last season's championship match. Talladega only lost four sets which were all to Fisk in its 15 HBCUAC matches. It won several of the Weekly HBCUAC awards. Franchesca Rivas won three Attacker of the Week awards, and Re'na Ashley won two. Briyith Echeverri, who was selected as the Preseason HBCUAC Player of the Year, won four Defender of the Week Awards. Giovana Costarelli claimed Setter of the Week twice. Talladega will open its tournament title defense against eighth-seed Southern University at New Orleans (4-18, 4-10) at 3 p.m. November 11.
The Dillard University Bleu Devils (17-8, 13-1) finished as regular season runners-up for the second consecutive season. They won their last nine conference matches, with their only defeat coming against Talladega on September 28. Trenity Pender was Dillard's only HBCUAC Weekly award winner - claiming Defender of the Week for October 14-20. Gabrielle Washington leads the HBCUAC with 1.32 blocks per set, and Nya St. Cyr is fourth with 0.94.
The Fisk University Bulldogs (22-15, 13-2) round out the top three. They contended for the conference title until the final week, when it fell in four sets to Talladega. Outside hitter Reagan Jones, Setter Trinity Britt, and defensive specialist Nialah Gupton won multiple HBCUAC Weekly Awards and rank near the top of the conference in their respective statistical categories.
Philander Smith University (19-6, 10-4) earned the fourth seed in its first season under coach Mariah Yarbrough. The Panthers' only setbacks in conference play were against the top three teams. Essence Wren won Setter of the Week twice and ranks second in assists per set. Christlove Lature was Defender of the Week for September 30-October 6
Rounding out this year's tournament is No. 5 Oakwood University (10-17, 8-7), No. 6 Stillman College (8-18, 7-8), and No. 7 Tougaloo College (8-19, 6-8). For the first time in over a decade, teams had to qualify for the championship.
In a larger effort to engage with the community, the HBCUAC will host its inaugural Champions of Character Volleyball Clinic, presented by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and YMCA of Northwest Louisiana on Sunday, November 10. The clinics will be held at the YMCA BHP and Lash Family YMCA Locations from 1-3:45 p.m. The teams will lead the clinics. Middle school students will go from 1-2:15 p.m., followed by the high school clinic at 2-3:45 p.m.
"Hosting the Champions of Character Volleyball Clinic reflects our commitment to developing the next generation of athletes who lead with integrity both on and off the court," said HBCUAC Commissioner Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes. "We are honored to partner with the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and YMCA of Northwest Louisiana to make this meaningful experience possible."
The quarterfinals begin on Monday, November 11
LOCATION
Bossier Parish Community College
6220 East Texas St.
Bossier City, LA 71111
Sunday, November 10
6:30 p.m. - Regular Season Awards Ceremony Live on HBCU+
Monday, November 11
9 a.m. - #4 Philander Smith vs. #5 Oakwood
Noon - #2 Dillard vs. #7 Tougaloo
3 p.m. - #1 Talladega vs. #8 Southern University at New Orleans
6 p.m. - #3 Fisk vs. #6 Stillman
Tuesday, November 12
Noon - Talladega/SUNO Winner vs. Philander Smith/Oakwood Winner
3 p.m. - Dillard/Tougaloo Winner vs. Fisk/Stillman Winner
Wednesday, November 13
Noon - Championship match
-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). HBCUAC 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, 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.