SAVANNAH, Ga.- After breaking and setting a new program single season win record last year, the Savannah State volleyball team has their sights set on shattering the record they broke in 2025 during the 2026 season.

"It has always been my target for every season here at SSU. However, we fell short but we cannot give up on finding ways to win a championship," says SSU head volleyball coach Roselidah Obunaga."

Last season, Savannah State lost to Fort Valley State in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship semifinals and ended their season with a 16-11 overall and 11-8 conference record. The 16 victories set a new single season record that was set a year ago by the 2024 team.

Since mid-February, the team has been practicing twice a week to hon their skills for the upcoming season.  

"As per the NCAA rules, we have 15 hours of practice weekly, states Obunaga. " My team goes six hours a week and we do 90 minutes to two hours of strength and conditioning per week," she adds.

The previous team lost three seniors to graduation and two members of the team have entered the transfer portal.

That along with a few injuries have left Obunaga with seven healthy players to have spring practice. "We had to cancel a game because of the low numbers and player injuries."

When asked what are some of the things the team is working on during the spring, Obunaga answered "mostly serves, receiving and strengthening our hitting tactics."

The team has also concentrated on getting stronger in the weight room during strength & conditioning sessions but due to low numbers, the team will concentrate on general strength & conditioning fundamentals but in the fall they will focus on specific areas.

Normally, this would be a good time to add some team building sessions but since the team is mostly made up of seasoned lettermen, those sessions weren't really necessary.

"The team has already bonded since they are veterans, however we do a few drills that brings excitement on the court. And with only three days of practice, we tend to narrow down the team bonding activities."

Obunaga will see those numbers pick up in the summer when the team reports for camp.

The coach hopes to have at least half a dozen new players on the roster in the fall and has already got a couple to sign on the dotted line.

"I have traveled to a few locations to recruit and signed three players. We have one that has verbally committed and I am looking to sign at least one more."

Amiyah Walker is expected to return in 2026 for her junior season.

Walker was the only SSU played named to the 2025 All-SIAC team, earning Second team honors. She finished the season with a team-leading 764 assists which had her second among her SIAC peers.

A setter, Walker played in 98 sets and started all 27 matches. She tallied 132  points, 90 kills and 22 serving aces and contributed on the defensive end with 288 digs and 38 blocks.

Last season, Obunaga brought in Candace Davenport as an assistant coach. "She is a volunteer coach who was recommended by a former teammate. She was a former collegiate athlete and came to Savannah because she is an educator."

One of the changes taking place in the conference during the upcoming season will be the departure of Spring Hill. The Gulf South Conference has announced that Spring Hill has accepted a full membership offer to join the league effective July 1, 2027 and begin athletic competition in the 2027-28 academic year.

The Badgers have won the SIAC Volleyball Tournament for the past seven years.

When asked if Spring Hill's exiting the conference will level out the playing field of teams competing to win the SIAC championship, Obunaga said "it's definitely a huge change in respect to the teams in the conference now, however, it can also depend on who else will join the conference in their place."

With spring practice set to wrap up on April 24, the team will spend the remainder of the semester concentrating on their academics and preparing for finals before heading home.

Stay Connected
For complete coverage of Savannah State University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @SavStateTigers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Known As Twitter), or visit the official online home of SSU Athletics at http://ssuathletics.com.