French Named MVP, Women’s Volleyball Announces 2025 Team Awards

Nelson-Brown letters 19 after historic season

1/11/2026 4:36:00 PM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - With the conclusion of the historic 2025 season for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's volleyball team, head coach Kim Nelson-Brown announced the recipients of the team awards at the team's banquet Sunday, Jan. 11. Additionally, Nelson-Brown lettered 19 student-athletes following a season that saw the Green and White win back-to-back College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championships for the first time in program history, as well as tying for the best finish in program history with an appearance in the NCAA Regional Championship.

Headlining the award winners, senior Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Sophomore Vanessa Stasieluk (Northbrook, Ill.-Glenbrook North), along with seniors Kannyn Boyd (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.-Mt. Pleasant) and Raegan Watts (Forsyth, Ill.-Maroa Forsyth) also received team awards.

One of the most decorated players in program history, French earned MVP honors for the third straight season. A First Team American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, French led the team with 449 kills, the 23rd most in Division III. Her 4.16 kills per set led the CCIW and ranked 22nd nationally and was the 10th best season average in program history, all while hitting .247 on the season. The senior finished with a team-high 77 aces, the ninth-most in the country, and tied for third-most in a season at IWU, while her 0.71 aces per set ranked 23rd in Division III and was the best season average in program history. A four-time All-American, French became the first player in program history to earn First Team All-CCIW honors all four seasons and was the first in CCIW history to be named a three-time specialty award winner after being named the CCIW Offensive Player of the Year for the third straight season. French graduates as the program record holder in career aces (286), points (2278.5), kills (1919), attack attempts (5139), and career aces per set (0.62).

Serving as a co-captain, Boyd was named the "Most Inspirational Player" for the first time. Boyd led an IWU defense with 461 digs, the 16th-most in a season all-time. Her average of 4.52 per set is the 10th-best season average in program history. Boyd finished third on the team in assists with 112, an average of 1.10 per set, and recorded 23 aces. The senior elementary education major helped captain an IWU team that won 28 games, the most in the Kim Nelson-Brown era, and most since 1989, all while student teaching for the duration of the season.

Watts earns the strength & conditioning award for the first time in her career donning the Green and White. The senior appeared in 23 matches for the Titans, totaling 44 sets, and finished with five aces, an assist, and a kill. The season saw Watts come back from an injury that sidelined her for the majority of 2024.

The recipient of the team's "Most Improved Player" award, Stasieluk earns the award for the first time in her career.

Nelson-Brown awarded letters to 19 student-athletes. Fourteen of the student-athletes are set to return for the 2026 campaign. The full list of letterwinners can be found here.

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