Volleyball | 10/12/2026 2:28:48 PM
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State senior Gabrielle Gilbert, Howard duo Addison Buckner and Camryn Shelton, and Coppin State junior Eva Rovello headlined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) weekly volleyball honors, the league office announced Monday.
Gilbert, Buckner and Rovello have each earned weekly awards in consecutive weeks, while Howard’s Shelton received her first weekly honor of the season.
Player of the Week: Gabrielle Gilbert | Norfolk State| Sr. | OH | Indianapolis, IN
Gilbert led the Spartans to a 2-0 week, bringing Norfolk State to 3-3 in MEAC play. The senior outside hitter recorded 36 kills (4.50 per set) and 5.38 points per set while hitting .286. Her top performance was a week-high 25 kills against North Carolina Central. Gilbert holds the MEAC’s top ranking in both points (319.5 total, 4.50 per set) and kills (269 total, 3.79 per set), and ranks second in service aces (39 total, 0.55 per set).
Rookie of the Week: Addison Buckner | Howard | Fr. | OH | Menomonee Falls, WI
Buckner earned consecutive Rookie of the Week honors after another strong offensive showing for the Bison. The freshman outside hitter tallied 23 kills (3.29 per set), seven digs and two aces over two wins, including a team-high 15 kills against South Carolina State. She is the only freshman in the MEAC ranked in the top 10 for both points (No. 9 with 184.5) and kills (No. 6 with 173).
Setter of the Week: Eva Rovello | Coppin State | Jr. | S | Vigneux de Bretagne, France
Rovello received consecutive Setter of the Week awards after leading the first-place Eagles (6-0 MEAC) to a pair of 3-0 sweep victories. She averaged 9.67 assists, 2.17 digs, 2.00 kills and 0.83 blocks per set, while matching her season high with four service aces against Maryland Eastern Shore. Rovello leads the MEAC in assists (747 total, 9.46 per set) and ranks fourth in service aces (31 total).
Defensive Player of the Week: Camryn Shelton | Howard | Jr. | L | Charlotte, N.C.
Shelton earned her first Defensive Player of the Week award this season after anchoring the back line for the second-place Bison (5-1 MEAC) during their five-match winning streak. She recorded 34 digs (4.86 per set) and eight service aces over two wins. Shelton posted 13 digs and five aces against North Carolina Central, followed by 21 digs and three aces against South Carolina State. She ranks third in the MEAC with 243 digs (3.92 per set).
Other Top Performers
Jada Williams led Morgan State to its first 2-0 week of the season and a three-match winning streak. She hit .457 while averaging 3.10 kills and 1.10 blocks per set. Williams opened the week with eight blocks (three solo), 12 kills, a .480 attack percentage, three digs and an ace in a five-set win over Delaware State. She finished the week with 16 kills, a .441 hitting percentage, four digs, two blocks, two assists and five service aces in a four-set win at Maryland Eastern Shore.
Jasmine Mataira directed the NSU offense to two MEAC wins over North Carolina Central and South Carolina State, recording 78 assists over eight sets (9.75 per set). She posted a week-high 44 assists, seven digs, three kills with a .500 hitting percentage and two service aces in a five-set win over North Carolina Central. Against South Carolina State, she recorded 34 assists in three sets (11.33 per set). Over the two matches, Mataira added eight digs, three kills with a .375 hitting percentage and five total points, guiding the Spartans to an undefeated week.
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.