Delaware State's Aaliyah Mitchell Named Player of the Week; MEAC Announces Weekly Volleyball Awards

Volleyball | 8/31/2026 2:30:00 PM

NORFOLK, Va. – Following the opening weekend of the 2026 volleyball season, Delaware State’s Aaliyah Mitchell was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday evening.

Howard’s Addison Buckner was named Rookie of the Week, while Coppin State’s Eva Rovello earned Setter of the Week honors. North Carolina Central’s Allyson Rouse was selected as Defensive Player of the Week.

Player of the Week: Aaliyah Mitchell | Delaware State | Sr. | OH | Monroe, N.C.
Aaliyah Mitchell led Delaware State to a perfect 3-0 weekend, recording a team-high 35 kills (3.89 kills per set) while hitting .362 and averaging 4.83 points per set. She added nine blocks (1.00 per set), seven digs and four service aces to help the Hornets post the MEAC’s lone undefeated record through Week 1.
 
Rookie of the Week: Addison Buckner | Howard | Fr. | OH | Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Addison Buckner made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut against Maryland, recording seven kills, four digs and a block. The newcomer followed with her first career double-double against George Mason, leading the Bison with 15 kills and 10 digs. Buckner also added an assist, an ace and three blocks in the match.
 
Setter of the Week: Eva Rovello | Coppin State | Jr. | S | Vigneux de Bretagne, France
Eva Rovello was named to the Hokie Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 7.54 assists per set, 2.15 digs per set and six blocks across three matches. She also recorded 11 kills while hitting .440 with no errors and added five service aces. In her Coppin State debut against William & Mary, she posted 33 assists, nine digs, five kills, an ace and two blocks before recording a double-double with 38 assists and 10 digs against Kent State, adding three kills, two aces and three blocks. She closed the weekend at Virginia Tech with 27 assists, nine digs, three kills, two aces and a block.
 
Defensive Player of the Week: Allyson Rouse | NCCU | So. | MH/MB | Fayetteville, N.C.
Allyson Rouse helped lead the Eagles to a 2-1 record on the opening weekend, totaling 23 kills and 17 blocks while hitting .378. Rouse recorded a career-high 10 kills against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and added seven blocks against Florida A&M.
 
Other Top Performers
  • Hannah Sanders (Delaware State) – Helped lead Delaware State to a 3-0 weekend, leading the team with 14 total blocks (1.56 blocks per set) while adding 20 kills on a .455 hitting percentage.
  • Gabrielle Gilbert (Norfolk State) – Recorded 27 kills, 12 digs, three blocks and three aces across two matches. Tallied 12 kills, six digs, two blocks and two aces against USC Upstate before posting 15 kills on a .433 hitting percentage, six digs, two assists, one ace and one block in a win over Elon.
  • Coco Figueroa (Coppin State) – Led Coppin State in digs in all three matches this weekend, recording 17 against Kent State and a match-high 20 at Virginia Tech. Added 12 assists and two aces, including six assists in the win over William & Mary and three assists against both Kent State and Virginia Tech.
  • Talia Emmen (North Carolina Central) – Recorded 33 kills while leading North Carolina Central to a 2-1 weekend. Averaged 3.0 kills per set, helping the Eagles earn wins over Florida A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
  • Dynasty Andrews (Maryland Eastern Shore) – Recorded 11 kills while hitting .400 and added 10 blocks over the weekend.
  • Panekova Michaela (Morgan State) – Named to the Steel Classic All-Tournament Team after leading Morgan State with 22 kills and a .244 hitting percentage across nine sets. Added nine digs, five blocks and an assist, including a season-high nine kills and four digs against Lehigh.
 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.