NEW ORLEANS – James Madison’s Kennedy Louisell and Ayen Nhial along with South Alabama’s Anabelle Cerny 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
(4th Yr., OH, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
James Madison’s Kennedy Louisell was an offensive power helping lead the Dukes to three wins in the LD&B Insurance Invitational at the Convocation Center this weekend. She recorded 51 kills over 10 sets (51-8-111) garnering 61.5 points. The fourth year also added eight service aces and four blocks on the weekend.
On Friday evening against UNCG she led all players with a season-best 24 kills, hitting .524 on the night (24-2-42) over four sets. This was her 39th consecutive match in double digits and was the first time a JMU Duke had hit over .500 (min. 12k) for a match since last September. She finished with 28.0 points on the night, well above her season average of 4.82 points per set which ranked 25th nationally coming into the night.
Saturday, Louisell again led all players with 14 kills, to mark her 40th consecutive match in double digits in a sweep over Delaware State. In the contest she led the Dukes with 18 points. To round out the weekend, the Michigan native once again reached double-digit kills posting 13 which extends her reaching double figures to 41 straight matches. She finished the day with 15.5 points in a three set sweep over George Mason. For her weekend performance she also took home LD&B Insurance Invitational All-Tournament honors. She also led the SBC in kills and points for the week.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Ayen Nhial, James Madison
(3rd Yr., MB, Louisville, Ky.)
James Madison’s Ayen Nhial was a force at the net for the Dukes over three matches at the LD&B Insurance Invitational at the Convocation Center. She finished the weekend with 24 total blocks (two solo, 22 block assists). The third year earned the Dukes 33.0 points in three wins. She also added four service aces over the three matches and recorded 16 kills.
On Friday, Nhial led the effort at the net with a season-high 13.0 blocks (two solo, 11 block assists) to help the Dukes to a 3-1 win over UNCG. In a sweep over Delaware State on Saturday, the third year recorded five kills, three service aces and two blocks. Sunday, the Kentucky native had 9.0 blocks to lead six Dukes credited with stops at the net. George Mason was held to a -.092 hitting percentage, the lowest mark of any JMU opponent this season. She recorded five of her nine in the first set alone. Her nine blocks on the afternoon tied the Convocation Center record for individual blocks in a three-set match. She holds the tying record as well, set against William & Mary on Sept. 21, 2025.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Anabelle Cerny, South Alabama
(1st Yr., S, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.)
South Alabama’s Anabelle Cerny posted one of her best weekends of the season as she helped the Jaguars post a 2-1 record at the Alabama Showdown. The first year setter recorded double-doubles in all three matches and now has eight on the season.
In her three matches, Cerny dished out 116 assists for a 10.55 assist per set average – two more assists per set that any other setter in the conference during the week – while she also had four kills, four aces, 36 digs (3.27 per set) and 11 block assists for a 1.00 blocks per set average. The Pleasant Prairie, Wis., native had 10 or more assists in nine of her 11 sets played.
On Thursday, Cerny recorded her first double-double with 34 assists, 13 digs, while adding three block assists in a straight-set victory over Samford. Against UAB, Cerny posted 45 assists and 10 digs while adding a pair of aces and block assists. With her directing the offense, South Alabama placed four players in double figures in kills and hit .250 or better in three of the Jags’ four sets. In the third match of the weekend, Cerny had one of her strongest outings as she finished with 37 assists and a team-high 13 digs, while also recording a pair of aces and a career-high six block assists.
Heading into Sun Belt Conference play, Cerny currently ranks second in the conference in assists with 9.19 per set.
2026 Sun Belt Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Kalina Calvillo, Troy
Week 2 – Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern
Week 3 – Sophia Johnson, Georgia State
Week 4 – Kennedy Louisell, James Madison
2026 Sun Belt Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Dalayla Blackwell, South Alabama
Week 2 – Mia Maloney, Arkansas State
Week 3 – MeMe Davis, App State
Week 4 – Ayen Nhial, James Madison
2026 Sun Belt Volleyball Setters of the Week
Week 1 – Allie Hazelwood, Southern Miss
Week 2 – Kaylee Musick, Coastal Carolina
Week 3 – Raegan Richardson, App State
Week 4 – Anabelle Cerny, South Alabama