Both Dillard (20-8) and Talladega (25-9) will advance to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Volleyball Championship opening round. The two teams will learn their first opponents and location of their matches on Monday Nov. 18 during the selection show aired on the Urban Edge Network.
The two HBCUAC squads squared off in the conference championship on Wednesday, and Dillard shut out Talladega 3-0. Dillard’s Cadence Thomas and Gabrielle Washington led a strong front row attack, and teammates Vanae Sapp and Tyramae Fautanu both recorded double-doubles in the sweep.
Sapp was named MVP – she posted her third double-double of the tournament with 11 kills and 12 digs. She, Dillard’s Sara Da Silva and Trenity Ponder headed the all-tourney team along with Talladega’s Giovana Costarelli and Taquoia Rounds; Sydney Willis of Fisk, and Ja’Niya Sanders of Philander Smith.
Winning coach Angela Franke talked to the MSR after the title celebration.
“It’s kind of surreal,” she admitted. “We did it in threes and we’re headed home. It is still sinking in.”
Franke is a proud HBCU alumna with earning two degrees from Alcorn State, where she began her coaching career from 2007-08, then her first head coaching opportunity at McCook (Neb.) Community College. She also led programs at Phoenix College, University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico, Loyola University New Orleans – her coaching experience spans both the NAIA and NCAA, and played volleyball first at a community college then finished at Jackson State.
The Bleu Devils now has won five of their last six matches, and didn’t lose a set in the 2024 HBCUAC tournament.
Two Black women led their respective squads to Wednesday’s championship match: Lashaunda Spurgeon coached Talladega in her second season at the school. She was named the school’s men’s and women’s head volleyball coach in February 2023.
“Talladega gave their all,” said Franke of the runners-up.
When asked when did she felt her squad had what it takes to capture a championship, “It was the HBCUAC Crossover (at Tougaloo College in late October) when we beat Fisk (3-0),” noted Franke. “I think that was the turning point of our season. The team started to really build confidence.”
After that win over Fisk, Dillard went on a 9-1 over the last few weeks, including a three-match sweep in the 2024 HBCUAC tournament in which they didn’t lose a set in the process.
Dillard lost in last season’s semifinals, “and they didn’t want to repeat that,” added Franke. “Going into this tournament, my team felt like we were the underdogs even though for all reasons we shouldn’t have been considered that. I think (her players) had something to prove this time.”
“Everyone is so grateful and excited,” surmised the Dillard HC, “and grateful for the opportunity they created for themselves.”