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History Makers Head to Foley for Sun Belt Volleyball Championship
The volleyball players of the Sun Belt Conference have been garnering big time recognition this season and making history. But the path forward goes through Foley at the Sun Belt Volleyball Championship November 20 -23.
The national attention began in late September when Coastal Carolina junior Jalyn Stout earned the NCAA record for most career triple-doubles when she tallied her 40th in a win over Marshall. But Stout is no stranger to the record books. She also holds the record for most triple-doubles in a season and is tied for the record of most double-doubles in a season. There aren’t any other Sun Belt players, past or present, currently on the list of NCAA individual records.
Etching her name in the record books isn’t the only way Stout is making history, she was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year Watchlist in October, becoming one of only two non-autonomous conference players to be recognized.
But Jalyn Stout isn’t the only one who’s got the nation talking. James Madison University’s Kennedy Louisell was the first player in the institution’s history to be named an AVCA Division I National Player of the Week. Louisell was the only non-autonomous conference player to earn the honor this year as of this release. While she made JMU history, Louisell also joined the list of only five other players who have earned the honor in the Sun Belt Conference’s history.
While individual stars are making national headlines, winning the title is far from guaranteed. The top ten teams make it to Foley, but the competition has been fierce throughout the season without a single undefeated team in the conference.
With the opportunity for history to be made, City of Foley Leisure Services Director David Thompson said it’s definitely a competition the community won’t want to miss.
“This is the opportunity for people to see some of the best of the best play,” Thompson said. “It’s an incredible chance for not just youth volleyball players in the area, but just people who love the thrill of fierce competition at the highest level to get caught up in the excitement of the Sun Belt Conference.”
Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill said the excitement isn’t just something the fans experience, the players feel it too.
“We are incredibly grateful to our long-term partners at Foley Sports Tourism and the City of Foley, who have helped us enhance the championship experiences for our student-athletes across a number of sports over the past decade,” said Gill. “We look forward to crowning another Sun Belt champion in Foley this week.”
Tickets to all matches are $11 for adults and $6 for children under 12. They can be purchased by clicking here. Match information can be found on the Sun Belt Conference website.
