CHARLOTTE, NC (October 28, 2025) - Week 8 of CIAA volleyball brought another round of intense matchups and highlight-worthy moments across the court. Teams battled with determination, showcasing dominant attacks, timely serves, and relentless defense that kept fans on the edge of their seats from the opening serve to the final point. 

Offensive Player - Aryanna Connell, Claflin

Aryanna continued to show why she is among the top players in the CIAA. This week, she recorded 43 total kills, including 20 kills against Virginia Union and 18 kills against Johnson C. Smith. The effort came with a pair of double-double efforts as she also added 12 digs against Virginia Union and 10 digs against Johnson C. Smith. She also recorded four service aces during the week as well. She had a pair of blocks (two solo) during the week as well. 

Defensive Player - Abigail Watts, Claflin

Abigail had a strong defensive effort for the week. She recorded a total of 48 digs during the week. She had 19 digs against Johnson C. Smith along with 17 digs in a win over Virginia Union. She also had 11 digs against NCAA Division I South Carolina State. She also added three service aces against Virginia Union along with a service ace vs. Johnson C. Smith. 

Setter - Giovanna Teixeira, Fayetteville State

Giovanna Teixeira powered the Broncos’ offense with 40 assists over two matches, dishing out 22 against Elizabeth City State and 18 versus Livingstone. She also contributed across all phases of play with five service aces, four total blocks, and nine digs.

Rookie - Leana Gould

Gould turned in a standout week for the Lady Bears, showcasing her offensive firepower and all-around impact. In a five-set battle against Winston-Salem State, Gould powered the attack with 14 kills on 36 swings, hitting .250 while adding a service ace and four total aces from the line. She also chipped in seven digs and one solo block in the win. Earlier in the week versus Virginia State, the rookie followed with another double-digit performance, tallying 13 kills on 32 attempts for a .219 hitting percentage to go along with three digs and two block assists. Across two matches, Gould totaled 27 kills, 10 digs, and five total blocks while maintaining a .235 hitting clip.

A link to the updated standings can be found here.

Media Contact:   
Anna M. Butzlaff  
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications  
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)   
abutzlaff@theciaa.com   

About the CIAA   
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest running African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.   

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.