BATON ROUGE, La. — Southern University libero Najah Harris earned Preseason Second Team All-SWAC honors, the conference announced Thursday.
 
Harris received the recognition following a standout 2025 campaign in which she established herself as one of the premier defensive players in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
 
The senior continued her climb up Southern's record book last season, recording 478 digs to rank second in program history for a single season. After posting 418 digs in 2024 to crack the top five, Harris surpassed that total and now sits fourth all-time in career digs with 931. Entering the 2026 season, she is just 69 digs away from becoming only the fourth Lady Jaguar to reach the 1,000-dig milestone.
 
A native of Dallas, Texas, Harris also ranks second in school history in career digs per set at 3.67. In addition, she is closing in on another career milestone, sitting 16th all-time with 71 service aces, just nine shy of breaking into the program's top 10.
 
The SWAC also released its preseason predicted order of finish, with Southern selected seventh. The Lady Jaguars exceeded expectations a season ago, advancing to the SWAC Tournament Championship match for the first time since 2014 after entering the tournament as the No. 7 seed.
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M

Preseason Blocker of the Year
Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
 
Preseason Libero of the Year
Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
 
Preseason Setter of the Year
Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
 
Preseason All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Rayishon Jackman, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter:  LaDonna Trantham, Florida A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Amya Jennings, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: D'Mya Hill, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaleigh Williams, Bethune-Cookman
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaylen Hines, Alabama State
Setter: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
Setter: Briana Smith, Alabama A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kelani Talakai, Alabama A&M
 
Preseason All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Hope Briggs, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Kenya Lucas, Grambling State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Valencia Wilder, Prairie View A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Sydney Whitfield, Florida A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Iyonna Sherwood, Prairie View A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Farah Farooq, Florida A&M
Setter: Makenzie Taylor, Florida A&M
Setter: Tayler Ruffin, Prairie View A&M
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Najah Harris, Southern
 

1. Florida A&M – 200 (6)
2. Prairie View A&M – 190 (5)
3. Jackson State – 170
4. Alabama A&M – 167 (4)
5. Alabama State – 164 (1)
6. Bethune-Cookman – 154
7. Southern – 107 (1)
8. Texas Southern – 98
9. Grambling State – 93
10. Alcorn State – 52
11. Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 51
12. Mississippi Valley State - 32

 

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