2025 Women's Volleyball AVCA All-Americans

French and Bardouniotis Named AVCA All-Americans

Titans earn multiple All-American honors for first time since 2018

11/26/2025 10:19:00 AM

AVCA Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. - For the first time since 2018, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team saw two student-athletes earn American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honors, as senior Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) and sophomore Alex Bardouniotis (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles North) earned the accolade. French was named a First Team All-American, while Bardouniotis represented the Titans as an honorable mention pick.

Solidifying her argument as the greatest player in program history, French joins now-assistant coach Tyler White (nee Brown) as the only Titans to earn All-American honors in all four seasons donning the Green and White. After earning third team (2022), second team (2023), and honorable mention (2024) in prior years, French lands on the top team for the first time to close out her historic career. The senior has rewritten the record book over the past four seasons, most notably becoming the program's all-time kills (1919), aces (286), and points (2278.5).

This season alone, French led the Titans with 449 kills, an average of 4.16 per set, both of which rank 22nd nationally, doing so on an efficient .247 attack percentage. The Romeoville, Ill. native also finished first on the team in aces with 77, the ninth-most in Division III this season, while her average of 0.71 sits 23rd. French stuffed her stat line with 325 digs, an average of 3.01 per set, 27 blocks, and 16 assists this season. This year alone, she was named the CCIW Hitter of the Week five times en route to becoming the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Year for the third straight season. The senior also earned AVCA National Player of the Week honors this year, garnering the national award for the third time in her career.

Bardouniotis reels in the first All-American honor of her career after a stellar sophomore campaign. She finished second on the squad with 327 kills, an average of 3.03 per set, and digs with 334, averaging 3.09 per set. With 51 aces, Bardouniotis ranked third on the team, as she averaged 0.47 per set. The sophomore added 29 blocks and 16 assists in a well-rounded effort all season. Bardouniotis earned First Team All-CCIW honors for the first time this season, and was twice named the CCIW Hitter of the Week. Her and French represented the Green and White on the NCAA Bloomington Regional all-tournament team.

The duo led Illinois Wesleyan to unprecedented heights this season. Behind a record of 28-3, IWU recorded the most wins under head coach Kim Nelson-Brown, and the most since 1989. The Titans reached their best ranking, coming in at No. 2 entering postseason play, and made the NCAA Regional Championship for the second straight season, and just the third appearance all-time. IWU won the CCIW regular season and tournament championship in dominant fashion, dropping two sets to conference opponents all season, becoming the first Titan squad to earn the crown back-to-back years.

Print Friendly Version