After her fourth and final season of playing Southeast volleyball, middle blocker Nzingha Clarke was named the Howard's Most Valuable Player, that was voted on by members of the 2017 Redhawks volleyball team. She already had been named All-OVC First Team, completing all-conference honors for each of her seasons at SEMO.

“What she added to the court was amazing. She was a four time all-conference performer, which is a hard thing to accomplish and is very rare.” head coach Julie Yankus said. “She added a ton to the offense on the court and her blocking was great.”

Clarke finished her senior season by leading the Ohio Valley Conference with a .374 hitting percentage, while also leading the team with 145 total blocks. She also ranks second in the league with 82 total blocks and 1.41 blocks per set.

“Zi definitely led by example whenever she was on the court, she would be willing to take matters into her own hands,” Yankus said. “She was the player who could perform under pressure for us by the time she got to her senior year, so she was one we could count on to be confident whenever the game was on the line.”

In Southeast’s program’s history, Clarke is ranked second on the team with 246 kills (140 in OVC play). She also placed 10th with 460 career blocks and 335 career block assists.

Clarke, who describes herself as a quiet person, said her coaches helped her step up into a leadership position. Clarke said Yankus told her a couple things she could do to lead without having to be outspoken and loud all the time.

Yankus recalled one time when Clarke admonished the team after a, particularly tough weekend. “I heard her getting onto the team in the locker room, and seeing that change in her to say, “It was unacceptable to play the way we did,” Coach Yankus said. “It was a huge turn around to know that she was one of those people saying we expect more from ourselves, and to see that quiet, shy girl saying that in the locker room was great.”

As a freshman, Clarke was selected to the All-Newcomer Team in 2014 and now has earned First Team All-OVC accolades in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Clarke describes her fourth spot on the First Team All-OVC as the cherry on top for her senior year.

“It was a reward for all the hard work while being a student-athlete because it takes a lot,” Clarke said.

Clarke also earned all-tournament honors at the New Orleans Invitational (8/26), Redhawks Invitational (9/2) and Drake Invitational (9/9) her senior season.