MEAC Announces Weekly Volleyball Honors -

Released by the MEAC,

NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 18, 2023 – Maryland Eastern Shore junior outside hitter Ranyla Griggs was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference announced. Norfolk State’s Gabrielle Gilbert was named Rookie of the Week, while Howard University senior Kayla Diaz was named Setter of the Week, and Coppin State sophomore middle blocker Laila Ibrahim earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Griggs (Jr., OH, Atlanta, Ga.) averaged 3.75 kills and 1.50 digs per set over three matches over the week, hitting a combined .322. She recorded double-digit kills in all three matches, beginning with 11 in a four-set win over Texas Southern. She recorded 17 kills each against UC Riverside and Tarlleton State, adding eight digs in the Riverside match. Griggs hit .303 against UC Riverside and .394 against Tarleton State.

Gilbert (Fr., OH, Indianapolis, Ind.) averaged 3.43 kills per set and hit a combined .281 over the weekend. She recorded 12 kills against Virginia, hitting a weekend-best .400, before adding 12 more kills in a four-set loss to George Washington.

Diaz (Sr., S, Rockland, N.Y.) averaged 7.57 assists per set for the Bison in matches against Power 5 foes Georgia Tech and Georgia. After recording 18 assists against Georgia Tech, Diaz turned in a 35-assist, 5-dig, 1-ace performance against Georgia.

Ibrahim (So., MB, Calgary, Alberta, Canada) averaged 1.6 blocks per set in three matches for the Eagles, including a career-high 11 in a four-set win over Portland. She added three blocks against UNLV and two against Lamar. For her efforts, Ibrahim was named to the UNLV Rebels Challenge All-Tournament Team.

Other Top Performers
Coco Figueroa (Coppin State) recorded 10 digs against UNLV.

TaKenya Stafford (Coppin State) recorded 12 kills each against Lamar and Portland, to go along with seven digs in both matches.

Alondra Maldonado (Delaware State) racked up 19 kills, hitting .459 in a five-set loss to Georgetown.

Jennifer Bolden (Howard) had eight kills each against Georgia Tech and Georgia.

Claire Simpson (Howard) recorded 15 digs against Georgia.

Makila Billingsley (Morgan State) recorded nine kills against both Cornell and Syracuse.

Trinity Carruthers (Morgan State) had 14 assists and 13 digs against Cornell.

Mya Karrick (Morgan State) had seven kills each against Cornell and Syracuse.

Jada Williams (Morgan State) racked up five blocks against Syracuse and four against Cornell.

Sydney McCree (Norfolk State) recorded a double-double (27 assists, 19 digs) against George Washington.