AVCA Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sophomore Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) of the Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region 8 First Team, announced by the organization, Wednesday, Nov. 15. It marks the second straight season the sophomore has earned the honor. 

French represents the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as the lone member of the league cited on the first team. North Park University's Christina Gatta and Kailee Itzenhuiser from Millikin University earned honorable mention. 

A sensational sophomore season saw French earn the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year, along with First Team All-CCIW status. She was awarded CCIW Hitter of the Week honors six times this season, and capped off the season by receiving the award for four consecutive weeks, both of which are CCIW women's volleyball records. The sophomore was twice named AVCA/GameChanger Division III National Player of the Week, earning the award back-to-back weeks, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. It marked the first time in AVCA history that a player has earned the national award in two straight weeks across all NCAA Divisions. 

One of the nation's top offensive threats, French finished the regular season ranked among the top-5 in kills (570), points (637.5), kills per set (4.79), and points per set (5.36). Her 570 kills mark the second-most in a season, while her 5.36 kills per set is the second-best average in program history. French finished the season with an attack percentage of .226, along with leading the team with 425 digs and 48 aces. She also added 30 total blocks, composed of nine solo and 21 assisted rejections. Appearing in all 30 matches for the Green and White, French finished with 20-or-more kills 14 times, and recorded a double-double performance 21 times. 

French's award marks the 29th time a Titan has earned All-Region honors, and the 23rd under head coach Kim Nelson-Brown. The sophomore joins elite company of Titans to earn the accolade multiple times, joining Amy Rajala (1989-91), LeAnn Genzel (1997-98), Tiffany Hamblin (2001-02), Jenna Passananti (2006-07), Emily Hagen (2008-09), and Tyler Brown (2015-18).