Women’s Volleyball Lands Three on AVCA All-Region List

Nelson-Brown named Region VIII Coach of the Year

11/19/2025 1:20:00 PM

AVCA Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. - For the first time in program history, the No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team landed three on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region list, while head coach Kim Nelson-Brown was named the Region VIII Coach of the Year.

Senior Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) and sophomore Alex Bardouniotis (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) represented the Titans on the First Team All-Region VIII, while senior Hannah Tellor (Metamora, Ill.-Metamora Township) was an honorable mention. It is only the second time the team has placed two on the first team, as Tyler Brown and Maddie Williams earned the honor in 2017.

French earns her fourth all-region accolade, joining Brown as the only two Titans to do so. The three-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Year has led the Green and White offense since she stepped foot on campus. This season, French has recorded 392 kills, an average of 4.13 per set on a .251 attack percentage. Her kills per set mark ranks 24th nationally, while her average of 5.01 points per set sits 14th. French also leads the team in aces, as the school's all-time aces record holder has 70 on the season, the 24th-most in Division III. She also ranks 17th in aces per set with an average of 0.74. Additionally, French has recorded 292 digs, 24 blocks, and 14 assists. She has been named the CCIW Hitter of the Week five times this season, and was the AVCA National Player of the Week, Nov. 4.

Bardouniotis collects the first all-region honor of her young career, as the sophomore has played a crucial role for the Titans this season. She ranks second on the squad in kills with 286, an average of 3.01 per set, and digs with 299, averaging 3.15 per set. Bardouniotis has also chipped in 46 aces, the third-most on the team, 26 blocks, and 12 assists. She earned First Team All-CCIW honors for the first time in her career, and was twice named the CCIW Hitter of the Week this season.

A key piece on both sides of the ball for the Titans, Tellor receives her first all-region award. The two-time First Team All-CCIW honoree leads the team with 62 blocks this season, an average of 0.65 per set. Tellor's 196 kills are third on the team, an average of 2.06 per set, on an efficient .310 attack percentage. The senior has tallied 27 aces and 77 digs, and reached the 1000 career kill mark against WashU, Oct. 21. Tellor earned the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week this season, collecting the award Oct. 20.

Nelson-Brown earns the AVCA Region VIII Coach of the Year award for the second time in her career, having previously earned the honor in 2015. Amid a season filled with program-bests, Nelson-Brown has directed the Titans to a 26-2 record entering the NCAA Tournament, including the best start in program history, as IWU won its first 13 matches. Winning the CCIW regular season and tournament championship for the second straight season, doing so with its second undefeated slate, Nelson-Brown and the Titans earned the right to host an NCAA Regional. Illinois Wesleyan earned seven All-CCIW honors, the most in program history, and reached the best ranking, checking in at No. 2 in the latest AVCA Poll released Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The Titans take on Asbury University at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20. All information regarding the regional can be found here.

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