NEW ORLEANS – James Madison’s Sophie Davis and Rebecca Watkins, and Georgia Southern’s Ally Barnhart each earned All-Tournament Team honors in their respective events this past weekend and have been named Sun Belt Volleyball Players of the Week.
Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Sophie Davis, James Madison
(Sr., MB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Dukes’ fifth-year senior Sophie Davis led James Madison to three wins this past weekend against Cal Poly, New Hampshire and VCU and was named Most Valuable Player of the Erie Insurance Invitational. She finished with 36 kills on .500 hitting for the weekend, averaging 3.60 kills per set. Davis surpassed 1,000 kills for her James Madison career over the course of the weekend. She also tallied 13 blocks at the Erie Insurance Invitational.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Ally Barnhart, Georgia Southern
(Sr., MB, Lenexa, Kan.)
Eagles’ fifth-year senior middle blocker Ally Barnhart, a transfer from USF, was named Most Valuable Player at the Campbell Invitational this past weekend. She ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference this past week with 1.75 blocks per set over the course of the team’s three matches against UTSA, San Jose State and Campbell. In the team’s sweep of San Jose State, Barnhart posted a career-high 10 blocks, tying a three-set program record that has stood since 2006.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Rebecca Watkins, James Madison
(Fr., S, Roswell, Ga.)
Dukes’ freshman setter Rebecca Watkins averaged 10.1 assists per set this past weekend and earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Erie Insurance Invitational, helping her team to wins against Cal Poly, New Hampshire and VCU. She also led her team in service aces with five on the weekend. Watkins also recorded 14 kills on .538 hitting with 20 digs and five total blocks.
2023 Sun Belt Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – KJ Johnson, Texas State
Week 2 – Samantha Wunsch, Texas State
Week 3 – Sophie Davis, James Madison
2023 Sun Belt Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Week 2 – Livy Kowalkowski, Georgia State?
Week 3 – Ally Barnhart, Georgia Southern
2023 Sun Belt Volleyball Setters of the Week
Week 1 – Kailey Keeble, South Alabama
Week 2 – Ryann Torres, Texas State
Week 3 – Rebecca Watkins, James Madison