TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M will enter the 2025 season with high expectations after being voted the Southwestern Athletic Conference women's volleyball preseason No. 1, the league announced this week.

The Rattlers, who have won three SWAC championships since joining the conference in 2021, earned the top spot in the poll of league coaches and sports information directors.

FAMU finished last season 27-7 overall and 16-0 in SWAC play, capping the year with another trip to the NCAA Tournament. The program has established itself as the conference's powerhouse under head coach Gokhan Yilmaz, who has guided the team to a 57-7 record since joining the conference in 2021.

FAMU placed four players on the Southwestern Athletic Conference's preseason all-conference teams, led by junior libero Dylan Hoskins, who was named Preseason SWAC Libero of the Year and a First Team All-SWAC selection.

Hoskins, a heralded transfer from Grambling State, will secure the back row for the Rattlers.

Hoskins capped the 2024 volleyball season with several strong individual efforts, highlighted by a season-high 35 digs against Nicholls on Sept. 19. Hoskins finished the year with 321 digs, 66 assists and five aces across 90 sets played. Her best offensive outing came on Nov. 10 against Alcorn, when she tallied one kill, four service aces and five points. She also dished out a season-best seven assists against Southern on Nov. 11.

While she was primarily a defensive specialist, Hoskins showed consistency in the back row, reaching double-digit digs in 12 matches, including 30 at Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 27 and 25 against Alabama A&M on Sept. 29.

Joining her on the first team was Iyonnie Sanford. Last season she earned postseason All-SWAC Second Team honors while appearing in 94 sets across 31 matches. She finished with 250 kills — second most on the team — averaging 2.66 per set, along with 104 digs and 50 total blocks.

She posted double-digit kills in 11 matches, highlighted by a season-high 22 at Jackson State, and notched a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs in FAMU's 3-1 win over Grambling State in the SWAC Tournament quarterfinals. Twice during the season, she was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Mackenzie Taylor, a sophomore setter, was named to the second team after pacing the Rattlers' offense with one of the conference's best assist totals. The two-time SWAC Newcomer of the Week and All-Tournament selection appeared in 86 sets across 28 matches, finishing second on the team with 428 assists — an average of 4.98 per set. She reached 20 or more assists in 10 matches, highlighted by a season-best 36 in a 3-1 win at Bethune-Cookman.

Defensively, she added 89 digs to cap a strong first season in Tallahassee.

Farah Faqooq, a middle hitter and blocker, also landed on the second team, providing a strong presence at the net with consistent blocking and efficient attacking. She appeared in 74 sets across 28 matches, finishing with 101 kills to become one of five Rattlers to top the 100-mark. She posted at least five kills in 12 matches, highlighted by season highs of seven against Jacksonville State, Alcorn and Alabama State.
She also contributed 52 blocks, 29 digs and 14 service aces in a balanced campaign.

2025 SWAC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish
 

1. Florida A&M- 218 (13) 
2. Jackson State- 202 (1)
3. Bethune-Cookman- 167
4. Prairie View A&M- 148 (2)
5. Alabama State- 146 (1)
6. Southern- 124 (2)
7. Grambling State- 122
8. Alabama A&M- 111
9. Texas Southern- 107
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 63
11. Alcorn State- 41
12. Mississippi Valley State- 33

 
 *First place votes listed in parenthesis

Player of the Year
Kylee Owens, Prairie View A&M 

Blocker of the Year
Kaylen Hines, Alabama State
 
Libero of the Year
Dylan Hoskins, Florida A&M
 
Setter of the Year
Karys Dove, Jackson State 
 
All-SWAC First Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Kylee Owens, Prairie View A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jayden James, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Fatima Ramirez, Alabama A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Iyonnie Sanford, Florida A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kaylen Hines, Alabama State
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Kyra Dove, Jackson State
Setter: Karys Dove, Jackson State 
Setter: Kamrynn Clay, Alabama State
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Dylan Hoskins, Florida A&M
 
All-SWAC Second Team
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Hope Briggs, Jackson State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: D'Mya Hill, Prairie View A&M
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Jyriah Morgan, Alabama State
Outside/Right Side Hitter: Mecca Freeman, Bethune-Cookman
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Farah Farooq, Florida A&M
Middle Hitter/Blocker: Ariel Simmons, Bethune-Cookman
Setter: Mackenzie Taylor, Florida A&M
Setter: Naija Gadis, Jackson State
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Rylee Davis, Bethune-Cookman