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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M volleyball continues to shine in Southwestern Athletic Conference play as two Rattlers were recognized for standout performances this week. Senior libero Victoria Santana was named Co-SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, while junior setter Makenzie Taylor earned SWAC Setter of the Week honors following dominant efforts against Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M.
Santana Anchors the Rattlers’ Back Row
Santana, a defensive leader for the Rattlers, showcased her elite consistency and court awareness over the weekend. Across two matches, she recorded 33 digs—averaging 5.5 per set—and posted a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 39 attempts. Her relentless defensive presence helped Florida A&M hold opponents to a combined hitting percentage under .200, keeping rallies alive and setting the tone for transition play.
Santana also contributed on the serve, tallying three aces while maintaining an impressive .960 serving percentage. Her ability to control the backcourt and neutralize opposing attacks was key in Florida A&M’s sweep over Texas Southern and hard-fought battle with Prairie View A&M.
Taylor Leads the Offense with Precision
On the offensive end, setter Makenzie Taylor orchestrated one of her best weekends of the season. Over two matches, Taylor dished out 58 assists—an average of 9.67 per set—while adding five kills, two service aces, and four total blocks. Her balanced play helped the Rattlers hit a combined .225 and find success from multiple attacking options.
In the sweep over Texas Southern, Taylor delivered 28 assists with a .354 setting percentage, along with two aces and seven digs. She followed that performance with 30 assists against Prairie View, showing poise under pressure and a sharp connection with hitters like LaDonna Trantham and Farah Farooq.