Rattler Volleyball Returns to Al Lawson Center

11/4/2022 9:06:00 AM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Four matches remain in the Florida A&M volleyball team's regular season schedule, and all four will take place inside the Al Lawson Center. Alabama State (Nov. 6) and Alabama A&M (Nov. 7) are next up to visit the highest of the seven hills.

Sunday, Nov. 6
Alabama State | 4 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 7
Alabama A&M | 6 p.m.

Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
The 2022 SWAC Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 18-20 in Houston, Texas, on the campus of Texas Southern. Florida A&M, the reigning champions, was pegged to repeat in the preseason coaches' poll, and currently sits atop league standings.

League Standings
Florida A&M (15-11, 12-0 SWAC)
Alabama State (15-13, 12-1)
Grambling State (13-10, 10-3)
Jackson State (11-14, 10-3)

The top eight seeds will qualify for tournament play.

Those Striking Rattlers

FAMU (15-11, 12-0) is the only SWAC team currently undefeated in league play
Florida A&M extended its winning spell with 3-0 record in the second SWAC cluster (victories over Southern, Texas Southern, and Alcorn State)
The Green & Orange have won 24 straight matches versus SWAC opponents
The Rattlers claimed their first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship title a year ago – in their inaugural season as league members
Gokhan Yilmaz secured his 50th career win as a head coach in a 3-0 decision over Alcorn State (Oct. 10) last year; he compiled 17 in a single season at Charlotte (2014-15) and currently manages 61 at the helm of FAMU
FAMU has recorded 10 straight-set wins this season (eight against SWAC opponents)
Dominique Washington, the SWAC's reigning Player and Newcomer of the Year, ranks second in the conference in kills (325); the grad notched 19-straight matches with 10-plus
Aja Jones possesses the best hitting percentage in the SWAC (.353)
Irem Ucar maintains a league-best 686 assists, and is the only athlete in the SWAC with more than 425; she averages 10.09 assists per game
Brooke Hudson leads the conference in digs (418), and has recorded at least 15 digs in 18 matches this season

All-Time Greats
In just two seasons with the Green and Orange, Ucar sees her name listed amongst the Rattler greats in career assists. The red-shirt senior possesses 1,882 at FAMU to rank fifth all-time.

1. Tracy Parker | 1993-96 | 4,960
2. Mariela Portocarrero | 2001-04 | 3,872
3. Delisha Peterson | 1999-02 | 2,725
4. Zaire Manzo | 2006-07 | 2,236
5. Irem Ucar | 2021-Present | 1,882

Washington is eight kills away from etching her name into FAMU's record book as a Top 10 career leader. She's currently working 889 and already ranks 10th in total attacks (2,266).

Career Attacks
1. Adriana Kostadinova | 2002-05 | 3,441
2. Maria Andonova | 2003-06 | 3,168
3. Jovana Blazeski | 2007-09 | 3,027
…
9. Kim Funchess | 1985-88 | 2,544
10. Dominique Washington | 2021-Present | 2,266

Career Kills
1. Kim Funchess | 1985-88 |1,569
2. Adriana Kostinova | 2002-05 | 1,563
3. Maria Andonova | 2003-06 | 1,547
…
9. Chaon Graham | 1991-94 | 945
10. Emerald Smith | 1995-98 | 897

SWAC Weekly Recognition
The Rattlers have secured 17 weekly awards this season; the most recent were announced Nov. 3, as Brooke Hudson and Irem Ucar were respectively named the defensive player and setter of the week.

Hudson has garnered a team-best five weekly accolades.

Nov. 3
Defensive Player of the Week – Brooke Hudson
Setter of the Week – Irem Ucar

Oct. 19
Newcomer of the Week - Brooke Lynn Watts
Setter of the Week – Irem Ucar

Oct. 5
Offensive Player & Newcomer of the Week – Brooke Lynn Watts
Defensive Player of the Week – Brooke Hudson
Setter of the Week – Irem Ucar

Sept. 28
Newcomer of the Week – Brooke Lynn Watts

Sept. 21
Defensive Player of the Week – Brooke Hudson
Setter of the Week – Irem Ucar

Sept. 14
Offensive Player of the Week – Dominique Washington
Defensive Player of the Week – Brooke Hudson
Setter of the Week – Irem Ucar
Newcomer of the Week – Aja Jones

Sept. 7
Defensive Player of the Week – Brooke Hudson
Setter & Newcomer of the Week – Nina Sharpton

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