AVCA Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Illinois Wesleyan University's women's volleyball player Taylor French (Romeoville, Ill.-Plainfield East) was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Third Team, Tuesday, November 15. French garnered third team honors after a standout freshman that included countless accolades. 

Overall, French becomes the 16th Titan in program history to pick up All-American honors, and the 15th under the reigns of head coach Kim Nelson-Brown. The Romeoville, Ill. native is the first freshman to land on the team since now-assistant coach Tyler Brown in 2015. Brown was the AVCA Freshman of the Year and cited on the All-American Honorable Mention squad. French's third team selection is the highest by a Titan freshman since Jenna Passananti was named to the third team in 2006.

In her first season for the Green and White, French was tabbed as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Newcomer of the Year, named to the All-CCIW First Team, and was twice honored as the CCIW Hitter of the Week. 

French led the Titans with 394 kills, a total good for second-most in the CCIW. The freshman led the league in aces with 72, which were the fourth-most in a season in program history. Her 0.66 aces per set season average broke a 25 year-old program record. The six-foot outside hitter displayed her ability to play through the entire rotation, as she compiled 387 digs, second-most on the team, and racked up 32 total blocks. Of the 28 matches she appeared in, French notched a double-double performance in 17. 

French recorded single-game highs of 25 kills (vs. Coe - Oct 1), 42 digs (vs. Millikin - Oct. 28), six aces (at North Park - Oct. 12), and four blocks (vs. Coe - Oct. 1). She tallied double-digit kills in 22 of 28 matches, and posted nine-or-more 26 times. French produced 20+ kills four times and compiled an attacking percentage better than .300 on nine occasions.

The freshman helped lead the Titans to a record of 17-12 in the 2022 season, including a CCIW Tournament appearance.