BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior transfer outside hitter Makeda Edwards of the Alabama State University women's volleyball team was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Newcomer of the Week after a stellar performance at the Owls Paradise Classic this past weekend, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.

Edwards recorded 40 combined kills in a trio of matches on the weekend. In the Lady Hornets' matchup with Stetson, she hammered the Hatters with 24 kills, more than doubling her career high of 11 in a four-set contest to open her sophomore campaign at Chowan University a season ago. Her attacking rate of 31.4 percent was also among the best of her career, as she hadn't attacked at that rate since a 66.7 percent mark recorded a year ago, nearly to the day. On top of her successful day on the attacking front, she also added five digs, a block and a set assist in the five-set battle.

The first-year Hornet had another strong game in the second of two contests against tournament host Florida Atlantic. Her 11 kills led the team, while she added a trio of digs and an ace serve in the three-set battle.

The Lawrenceville, Ga., native's weekend was indeed her Alabama State coming-out party, after she saw the court in two sets across three matches the week before at the home ISTAP Collegiate Cup and recorded a combined 15 kills through the team's first 10 outings. Her season stats were boosted with her performance this past week, as the Peachtree Ridge High School product has a stat line featuring 55 kills, 12 digs and four block assists on the young season while accounting for 58 team points.

Not only does this show the team's growth from the beginning of the season until now, but with the individual success many have had this season, not only on the attacking front with Edwards and middle blocker Kaylen Hines, but also the supporting players around them, it is proof of the versatility of head coach Penny Lucas-White's system and the depth of her 2026 roster.

You can catch Edwards and the rest of the Lady Hornets (2-11 overall) in action as it begins SWAC play this weekend against Florida A&M (Friday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.) and Bethune-Cookman (Sunday, Sept. 27 at noon). Its first home contest will be in the Lockhart Gymnasium on Thursday, Oct. 15, when it welcomes Mississippi Valley State to town for its sixth conference contest of the year.