NEW ORLEANS – James Madison’s Kennedy Louisell and Ayen Nhial and Georgia Southern’s Kirsten Barrett 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
Kennedy Louisell, James Madison
(Jr., OH, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
For the third time this season, James Madison junior outside hitter Kennedy Louisell earned Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Louisell continued her historic 2025 season by breaking James Madison's all-time single-match record for kills - which had stood since 1984 - with 37 in five-set win over Georgia State on Oct. 4, hitting .412 (37-9-68) while adding 11 digs and three aces for a total of 41.5 points.
For the weekend, she totaled 58 kills (6.44 per set) and 64.0 points (7.11 per set) in a pair of wins over Georgia State. The outside hitter hit .370 (58-14-119) and had double-doubles in both matches. Louisell continues to lead the nation in kills (331) and is second in kills per set (5.34).
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Ayen Nhial, James Madison
(So., MB, Louisville, Kentucky)
James Madison sophomore middle Ayen Nhial led the Sun Belt in total blocks (18) and blocks per set (2.00) as the Dukes picked up a pair of wins over Georgia State. On Friday, Nhial had six blocks - including two solo - while adding four kills. On Saturday, Nhial racked up a career-high 12 blocks in the five-set win for JMU, which is tied for the most by a SBC player in a match this season.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
(Sr., S, Cleveland, Ohio)
For the fourth time this season, Georgia Southern senior setter Kirsten Barrett earns Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Week honors. Barrett led all Sun Belt players on the week in total assists (95) and assists per set (11.88) in the Eagles' pair of matches this week. She also notched 29 digs (3.63 per set) and delivered a season-high 54 assists and a career-high 21 digs in Friday's five-set match against Marshall, notching her seventh double-double of the season. She tallied 41 assists (13.67 assists/set) in Saturday's sweep of the Thundering Herd as the Eagles hit .351 as a team, tops in a Sun Belt match this season. Barrett continues to lead the Sun Belt and rank among the Top 20 in NCAA Division I in assists per set (10.51).
2025 Sun Belt Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina
Week 2 – Kennedy Louisell, James Madison
Week 3 – Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina
Week 4 – Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State
Week 5 – Kennedy Louisell, James Madison
Week 6 – Kennedy Louisell, James Madison
2025 Sun Belt Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Maddie Cugino, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Alexa Strandberg, South Alabama
Week 3 – Anna Rita, Coastal Carolina
Week 4 – Haley Glunz, Arkansas State
Week 5 – Anna Rita, Coastal Carolina
Week 6 – Ayen Nhial, James Madison
2025 Sun Belt Volleyball Setters of the Week
Week 1 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Anna Blaine, Texas State
Week 3 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Week 4 – Bella Thompson, Marshall
Week 5 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern
Week 6 – Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern