NEW ORLEANS – James Madison’s Brenya Reid, Marshall’s Beatrice Ciccarelli & South Alabama’s Anna Loberg each turned in impressive performances to lead in various statistics across the league. They have been named Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Players of the Week.
Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Brenya Reid, James Madison
(Jr., OH, Georgetown, Del.)
For the second week in a row, James Madison’s Brenya Reid earned a weekly honor by racking up 51 kills in nine sets (5.67 per set) in a pair of James Madison wins over defending Sun Belt champions Coastal Carolina. The 51 kills and 5.67 per set ranked first in the Sun Belt Conference. The 28 kills is the most by any JMU player in a four-set match in head coach Lauren Steinbrecher's tenure (2010-present). In Friday's contest, Reid picked up 23 kills in the Dukes' five set win to go along with 13 digs, three service aces, and three blocks. On Saturday, Reid eclipsed her career high in kills, finishing with 28 kills in only four sets (7 per set) while adding another three aces. She also recorded 12 digs and now has five double-doubles in her past seven matches played. Over that same span (7 matches), Reid has totaled 150 kills (5 per set) and led the Dukes to a 5-2 record.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Beatrice Ciccarelli, Marshall
(Jr., MB, Bologna, Italy)
Marshall’s Beatrice Ciccarelli led the team with 38.5 points, 29 kills (3.22 per set) with a .368 hitting percentage and 15 blocks, two solos. On Friday, the native of Italy registered 12 kills, 11 blocks and finished with a .333 hitting percentage before falling that up with a season-high 17 kills, a .400 hitting percentage and four blocks to complete the weekend sweep.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Anna Loberg, South Alabama
(RS Jr., S, Geneva, Ill.)
South Alabama’s Anna Loberg directed the Jaguar offense to a road series sweep over Southern Miss this past week. With the series sweep, the Jaguars extended their season-best six-match win streak and have won nine of their last 12. For the week, Loberg had 95 assists and averaged 11.88 assists per set. The redshirt-junior setter also had a pair of double-doubles, recorded 29 digs (3.63 per set) and nine block assists (1.13 per set). Loberg recorded 10 or more assists in seven of her eight sets, including six with 13 or more. Her best came during the third set on Thursday night where she dished out 16. In the series opener on Thursday, Loberg posted a career-best 52 assists and finished with 16 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Loberg also had three kills and four block assists. With the 16-dig performance, Loberg passed the 300-dig mark for her career. On Friday, South Alabama hit .304, the club’s second-best hitting percentage this fall. Loberg recorded her third-straight double-double with 43 assists and 13 digs, while also adding five block assists. She has tallied 40-plus assists in four straight matches and had at least one service ace in six of her last seven, recording nine over that stretch.
2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Tori Hester, Troy
Week 2 – Jillian Gray, Georgia Southern
Week 3 – Amiah Butler, Troy
Week 4 – Samantha Wunsch, Texas State
Week 5 – Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina
Week 6 – Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern
Week 7 – Brenya Reid, James Madison
Week 8 – Brenya Reid, James Madison
2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Ashlyn Lovett, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Sarah Martinez, Arkansas State
Week 3 – Ashlyn Lovett, Georgia Southern
Week 4 – Ashlyn Lovett, Georgia Southern
Week 5 – Torrey Tkach, Southern Miss
Week 6 – Jade Defraeye, Texas State
Week 7 – Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss
Week 8 – Beatrice Ciccarelli, Marshall
2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Setters of the Week
Week 1 – Brynn Brown, Marshall
Week 2 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Week 3 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Week 4 – Addison Heidemann, App State
Week 5 – Ryann Torres, Texas State
Week 6 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Week 7 – Jordan Smart, James Madison
Week 8 – Anna Loberg, South Alabama