President Marva Johnson: Congratulations to Our SWAC Championship Women's Volleyball Team
Dear Florida A&M Community,
What an extraordinary moment for Florida A&M University! Please join me in celebrating our phenomenal women’s volleyball team for capturing their fourth SWAC Championship in five years. Since joining the conference in 2021, FAMU has consistently dominated the SWAC, and this year’s championship adds another remarkable chapter to that legacy.
This title is especially historic: entering the tournament ranked No. 8, our Rattlers became the lowest seed ever to win the SWAC Championship. To our champions, this victory is a testament to your talent, discipline, and the championship culture you continue to build here on The Highest of Seven Hills.
Under the exceptional leadership of Head Coach Gokhan Yilmaz—a multi-time SWAC Coach of the Year who has guided this program with vision and consistency since 2022—our Rattlers once again rose to the occasion. I also want to acknowledge the invaluable work of Assistant Coaches Steve Canfield and Brook Hudson, whose dedication and expertise have helped shape this powerhouse team.
Sunday’s 3–1 victory over Southern inside the Lawson Center was truly thrilling. From the opening serve, the Rattlers showed poise, resilience, and heart. Your performance across all four sets reflected what it means to be a Rattler: steady, prepared, and built for the moment.
I am especially proud to see four FAMU players named to the All-Tournament Team: Sydney Whitfield, Farah Farooq, LaDonna Trantham, and Makenzie Taylor—with Taylor earning the tournament’s highest honor as Most Valuable Player. These distinctions speak not only to individual excellence but to the strength and cohesion of the entire program.
My fellow Rattlers, please be sure to tune in to ESPN at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, to watch the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Selection Show. This is when the full 64-team bracket—featuring 31 automatic qualifiers and 33 at-large teams—will be revealed.
On behalf of the FAMUly, congratulations on this championship, and thank you for representing the Orange & Green with such pride. You have inspired the Rattler Nation once again, and we are cheering you on as you continue to excel as student-athletes and scholars.
With Rattler Pride,
Marva B. Johnson, J.D., MBA
Florida A&M University President
