Kannyn Boyd CSC Third Team Academic All-America

Boyd Named to CSC Academic All-America Third Team

Earns program’s first Academic All-America honor since 1998

1/14/2025 11:00:00 AM

CSC Release

GREENWOOD, Ind. - For the first time since 1998, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team saw a student-athlete earn College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors, as junior Kannyn Boyd (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.-Mt. Pleasant) was named to the third team, announced by the organization Tuesday, Jan. 14. Boyd is the only representative from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin on the teams, and becomes the 161st Academic All-America honoree in Illinois Wesleyan history.

It is the sixth Academic All-America honor for the women's volleyball program, and Boyd becomes just the fourth player to earn the distinction. The junior joins Kirstin Rajala, who was the program's first recipient, earning first team honors in 1988 and 1989, Elise LoBue, a third team selection in 1996, and LeAnn Genzel, who was named to the second team in 1997 before earning first team honors in 1998. Boyd becomes head coach Kim Nelson-Brown's fourth honoree, as Nelson-Brown took over the program in 1996.

An elementary education major with a 4.0 GPA, Boyd made an immediate impact for the Titans after transferring from Division II Newberry College in January 2024. A Second Team All-CCIW honoree, Boyd led the Green and White in digs with 550, an average of five per set. Her 550 digs are the eighth-most in a single season in program history, while the average of five digs per set is the second-best. Additionally, Boyd added 120 assists, 22 aces, and three kills while playing in 31 matches, helping guide the Titans to a 24-10 overall record, while going a perfect 8-0 in CCIW action to claim the regular season championship and the CCIW Tournament trophy.

In the NCAA Regional, Boyd accrued 57 digs, averaging an astonishing 6.33 per set, along with seven assists, three aces, and a kill. The libero helped IWU make it to the program's second NCAA Regional Championship, tying for its best finish, earning Boyd NCAA Marietta Regional All-Tournament Team honors.

Known on the team for her positivity and electric celebrations, Boyd also makes an impact in the community. During the season, Boyd volunteered at the Humane Society, the Midwest Food Bank, in assistant coach Maggie Nelson's elementary school classroom, with Miracle League, and helped with the team's annual blood drive.

Boyd is Illinois Wesleyan's first Academic All-America honoree of the 2024-25 academic year.

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