TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M volleyball team's jam-packed schedule continues with four matches in five days; the slate begins with the Jaguar Invitational hosted by South Alabama (Sept. 15-16) and ends with a meeting inside Al Lawson Center (Sept. 18). 

Jaguar Invitational 
Thursday, Sept. 15
Match 1: Florida A&M vs. Ole Miss | 1 p.m. ET

Friday, Sept. 16
Match 2: Florida A&M vs. Eastern Kentucky | 11 a.m. ET
Match 3: Florida A&M at South Alabama | 6:30 p.m. ET

The Rattlers' tournament finale against the host USA will stream live on ESPN+.

Sunday, Sept. 18
Match 4: Florida A&M vs. UAB | 2 p.m. 

Those Striking Rattlers

• FAMU (3-7) left the state of North Carolina with a clean sweep in victories over UNC Greensboro, Elon, and North Carolina A&T, two of which – UNCG and NCAT – captured straight-set decisions
• Sunday's match against UAB also marks the end of the team's non-conference schedule; the Rattlers claimed their first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship title a season 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 49 at the helm of FAMU
• Dominique Washington, the SWAC's reigning Player and Newcomer of the Year, ranks third in the conference in kills (127); the grad is working six-straight matches with 10-plus  
• Washington currently ranks 15th in the country in total attacks (409) and 51st in total kills
• Aja Jones possesses the best hitting percentage in the SWAC (.404), which also sits 34th in the nation
• Brooke Hudson leads the conference and ranks 12th in the nation in digs (184) 

SWAC Weekly Recognition 
Nina Sharpton and Brooke Hudson were the first Rattlers to secure a SWAC weekly award this season when the former garnered Newcomer & Setter of the Week, the latter Defensive Player of the Week, for performances in the FAMU/FSU Tournament (Sept. 2-3). 

Sharpton's 49 assists against JMU (Sept. 3) still sits atop the SWAC's 2022 performance list. Hudson posted her first Rattler double-double behind a season-high 26 points and 10 assists, also against the Dukes. 

The Newcomers
All five Rattler newcomers have received considerable playing time this season. 

 Aja Jones boasts the team's best hitting percentage (.404) and is currently pacing the team in blocks (32.0), while Sharpton leads FAMU and the SWAC in assists (216). With offensive and defensive prowess, Hudson manages a team-best 184 digs (the most in the conference) to go alongside 10 service aces.

#1 Jada Taylor | L | 5-5 | Jr. | Chicago, Ill. / Grambling State
#2 Brooke Lynn Watts | OH | 5-9 | So. | Odenton, Md. / Murray State
#8 Nina Sharpton | S | 5-10 | R-Sr. | Palm Beach, Fla. / N.C. State
#9 Brooke Hudson | DS | 5-3 | Sr. | Houston, Texas / Colorado State
#11 Aja Jones | MB | 6-1 | Sr. | Venice, Fla. / Florida Gulf Coast University