Verniece Graham Named SIAC Volleyball Coach of Year
Albany State's coach earned the honor after the Golden Rams went 18-1 in conference play and advanced to the SIAC title match.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Volleyball
Albany State volleyball coach Verniece Graham was named SIAC volleyball coach of the year, selected by the league's head coaches. The Golden Rams then defeated Miles College 3-1 in a semifinal to advance to the SIAC Championship against Spring Hill.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes a team that has won 17 straight matches and posted a 26-8 overall record this season. Spring Hill is the only team to beat Albany State in SIAC play this year, making Thursday's final a rematch with significant stakes for the conference.
Albany State's 18-1 conference record and 17-match winning streak are season totals reported by the league. Jarianis Perez recorded 21 kills and a .439 hitting percentage in the semifinal, while Shaniya Banks added six kills and Liannette Burgos delivered 32 assists; the championship result against Spring Hill remains unknown.
The players
Albany State University
A public historically Black university in Albany, Georgia, and a member of the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
An NCAA Division II athletic conference of historically Black colleges and universities in the southeastern United States.
The details
The coach was selected by the SIAC's head coaches and announced Monday. In the semifinal Wednesday, Albany State won 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 25-22 and held Miles to six kills in the third set.
Timeline
Monday: Verniece Graham named SIAC volleyball coach of the year.
Wednesday: Albany State defeats Miles College 3-1 in the SIAC semifinal.
Thursday at noon: Albany State faces Spring Hill in the SIAC Championship at the Health and Physical Education Complex in Fort Valley.
Season Trajectory
The SIAC final is the decisive step in Albany State's bid for an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II volleyball tournament, since the conference champion receives that automatic qualification. A win would secure the bid, while a loss would leave the team to rely on the tournament selection process.
The championship result determines whether Albany State receives an automatic NCAA Division II tournament bid rather than relying on at-large selection. Fans attending Thursday's noon match in Fort Valley can expect the game to be decided by the outcome of the rematch with Spring Hill.
The takeaway
Albany State's strong conference record and Graham's recognition show a program built on consistent play, and Thursday's final will test whether that form holds against the only team to beat it this season.
What happens next
Albany State and Spring Hill meet Thursday at noon at the Health and Physical Education Complex in Fort Valley in the SIAC Championship, and the winner earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II tournament.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Albany Herald.
