CCIW Stars Shine: 5 Earn AVCA Region 8 Honors
Region 8 Recognition Rolls In for CCIW: Five Stars Earn AVCA Honours in 2025
Key Takeaways
- Five CCIW athletes and one coach received AVCA Region 8 honours this year.
- Illinois Wesleyan led the way with three First Team selections and one Honourable Mention.
- Carthage’s Kristina Manojlovic earned First Team recognition with outstanding stats.
- Coach Kim Nelson-Brown was named Region 8 Coach of the Year for the second time.
- These awards highlight the strength of CCIW women’s volleyball and boost chances for national All-America honours.
A Thrilling Moment for CCIW Volleyball Fans
Hello, volleyball lovers! If you follow college volleyball, you’ll know how exciting award season can be. Just when the 2025 season is reaching its peak with the NCAA Tournament underway, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) has announced its Region 8 honours – and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) is celebrating big time!
Imagine this: five talented players from the CCIW have earned AVCA honours, with three grabbing First Team spots, one getting Honourable Mention, and a brilliant coach taking home the top coaching award. This is huge news for fans, players, and everyone connected to these teams. It shows just how strong CCIW volleyball has become this year.
The announcement came on 20 November 2025, right in the middle of an action-packed season. The CCIW has nine member colleges, including Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) and Carthage College, and they have been turning heads all year. Illinois Wesleyan finished the regular season undefeated in conference play and won the CCIW Tournament for the second year running. They even hosted an NCAA Regional and reached as high as number 2 in the national rankings!
Why does this matter so much? AVCA Region 8 covers some of the best teams in the Great Lakes area, including schools from Illinois and Wisconsin. Getting recognised here means you are among the very best in your region. These honours are a stepping stone to national All-America awards, so these players now have a great chance of even bigger recognition.
Let’s meet the stars. From Carthage, junior Kristina Manojlovic made the First Team. At Illinois Wesleyan, sophomore Alex Bardouniotis and senior Taylor French also earned First Team honours, while senior Hannah Tellor received Honourable Mention. To top it all off, IWU head coach Kim Nelson-Brown was named Region 8 Coach of the Year – her second time winning this award!
This success didn’t happen by chance. The players worked hard all season, putting up impressive numbers in kills, digs, blocks, and aces. For example, Taylor French broke her own school record for aces and was named AVCA National Player of the Week earlier this month. Kristina Manojlovic led the entire conference in kills and ranked sixth in the whole country!
The CCIW has a proud history, starting back in 1946, and volleyball has always been a strong sport here. This year, though, feels special. Illinois Wesleyan went 8-0 In conference games, and finished with a 27-2 overall record. Carthage also had a solid season, finishing second in the conference standings. These awards show that the hard work, teamwork, and skill in the CCIW are paying off.
If you are a young player dreaming of college volleyball, stories like these can inspire you. These athletes started just like you – practising in school gyms, playing club volleyball, and never giving up. Now they are being recognised at the regional level. It proves that with dedication, anything is possible.
The excitement doesn’t stop here. With the NCAA Tournament still going on, these honoured players are helping their teams chase national glory. Illinois Wesleyan has already advanced in the tournament, and fans are hopeful for a deep run. Keep an eye on these stars – they are the future of women’s volleyball!
What Do AVCA Region 8 Honours Really Mean?
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is the main group for volleyball coaches in the USA. Every year, they pick the best players in ten different regions for Division III women’s volleyball. Region 8 includes strong programmes from Illinois and Wisconsin, making the competition tough.
Each region has 14 First Team spots and six Honourable Mention places. There are also special awards for Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year. This year, 200 players from 96 schools across the country made All-Region lists.
Being selected means coaches from other teams voted for you because of your excellent play all season. It is a big honour and often leads to All-America recognition. For the CCIW, five honourees is a fantastic achievement and shows the conference is one of the best in Region 8.
Spotlight on the Five CCIW Stars Who Earned AVCA Honours
Kristina Manojlovic – Carthage College (First Team)
Kristina is a junior outside hitter from Skokie, Illinois. She had an amazing season, leading the CCIW with 482 kills – that ranked her sixth in the whole of Division III! She also had 1,315 attacks (third nationally), 540.5 points (seventh nationally), 286 digs, and 53 blocks.
Kristina earned First Team All-CCIW honours as well. Her powerful hits and all-around game made her stand out. Carthage finished the season 21-11 and reached the CCIW Tournament, thanks in large part to Kristina’s leadership on the court.
Alex Bardouniotis – Illinois Wesleyan (First Team)
Sophomore Alex, from St. Charles, Illinois, earned her first all-region honour. She recorded 286 kills (3.01 per set), 299 digs (3.15 per set), 46 aces, and 26 blocks. Alex was named CCIW Hitter of the Week twice and made First Team All-CCIW.
Her breakout season helped Illinois Wesleyan stay undefeated in conference play. Alex is a perfect example of how young players can shine right away in college.
Taylor French – Illinois Wesleyan (First Team)
Senior Taylor, from Romeoville, Illinois, earned her fourth all-region honour – only the second player in IWU history to do so! She led her team with 392 kills (4.13 per set, 24th nationally), 5.01 points per set (14th nationally), and 70 aces (17th nationally). Taylor now holds the school record for career aces.
She was CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year three times and AVCA National Player of the Week on 4 November. Taylor’s experience and skill were key to IWU’s success.
Hannah Tellor – Illinois Wesleyan (Honourable Mention)
Senior Hannah, from Metamora, Illinois, received her first all-region honour. She led IWU with 62 blocks (0.65 per set) and added 196 kills with a .310 hitting percentage. Hannah reached 1,000 career kills this season and was named CCIW Defensive Player of the Week once.
Her strong defence helped the Titans win many close matches.
Kim Nelson-Brown – Region 8 Coach of the Year
Coach Kim led Illinois Wesleyan to a 26-2 record entering the NCAA Tournament, an undefeated CCIW season, and a tournament title. The team set a programme record with seven All-CCIW selections. This is Kim’s second Coach of the Year award (the first was in 2015).
CCIW 2025 Women’s Volleyball Standings
| School | Conference Record | Overall Record |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Wesleyan | 8-0 | 27-2 |
| Carthage | 5-3 | 21-11 |
| Millikin | 5-3 | 15-14 |
| Wheaton | 4-4 | Not listed |
| Carroll | 3-5 | Not listed |
(Data from the official CCIW website)
Player Stats Comparison Table
| Player | Kills | Kills/Set | Aces | Digs | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kristina Manojlovic | 482 | 3.83 | 28 | 286 | 53 |
| Taylor French | 392 | 4.13 | 70 | 292 | 24 |
| Alex Bardouniotis | 286 | 3.01 | 46 | 299 | 26 |
| Hannah Tellor | 196 | 2.06 | 27 | 77 | 62 |
Why This Year Was Special for CCIW Volleyball
The CCIW has a long tradition of strong volleyball, but 2025 stood out. Illinois Wesleyan started the season with 13 straight wins – the best start in programme history. They swept the CCIW regular season and tournament, then hosted an NCAA Regional. Carthage also qualified for the conference tournament and finished with 21 wins.
Compared to last year, when CCIW had four All-Region honourees, this year’s five is a step up. It shows the conference is getting stronger and attracting talented players.
Tips for Young Players Hoping to Earn AVCA Honours
- Work on all skills – kills, digs, blocks, and serving.
- Play club volleyball to gain experience.
- Stay fit and eat healthily.
- Be a good teammate and leader.
- Watch college games to learn from players like Taylor and Kristina.
What Comes Next? NCAA Tournament and All-America Hopes
Illinois Wesleyan is still competing in the NCAA Tournament and has already won regional matches. These AVCA honours make the players eligible for All-America selection, which will be announced soon. Fingers crossed for more good news!
Suggested Internal Links:
- CCIW Women’s Volleyball Championship Recap
- Top Moments from the 2025 Season
- Meet the Freshmen Making an Impact
Authoritative External Links:
- Official CCIW Announcement: https://cciw.org/news/2025/11/20/womens-volleyball-region-8-recognition-rolls-in-for-cciw-five-earn-avca-honors.aspx
- AVCA Division III Awards Page: https://www.avca.org/award/2025-avca-division-iii-womens-regional-awards/
Conclusion
The 2025 AVCA Region 8 honours have put the CCIW in the spotlight, with five outstanding players and a brilliant coach earning well-deserved recognition. From Kristina Manojlovic’s powerful kills to Taylor French’s record-breaking aces, these athletes have shown what hard work and talent can achieve. Illinois Wesleyan’s dominant season and Coach Kim Nelson-Brown’s leadership have made this a year to remember.
If you love volleyball, follow these teams in the NCAA Tournament and cheer them on! Share this post with your friends, leave a comment about your favourite player, and subscribe for more CCIW updates. Who do you think will make All-America? Let us know!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who earned AVCA Region 8 First Team honours from the CCIW? Kristina Manojlovic (Carthage), Alex Bardouniotis (Illinois Wesleyan), and Taylor French (Illinois Wesleyan).
2. What does AVCA All-Region mean? It is a regional award voted by coaches for the best players in each area. It often leads to national All-America honours.
3. Who was named Region 8 Coach of the Year? Kim Nelson-Brown from Illinois Wesleyan – her second time winning the award.
4. How many players from CCIW earned AVCA honours in 2025? Five players plus one coach honour.
5. What is the CCIW? The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – a Division III conference with nine member colleges.
6. Will these players make All-America? They are now eligible, and selections will be announced soon by the AVCA.
7. Where can I watch CCIW volleyball matches? Check the official CCIW website or team YouTube channels for live streams.
8. Who won Region 8 Player of the Year? Sami Perlberg from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
9. How can a high school player aim for these honours? Play club volleyball, maintain good grades, and get noticed at tournaments.
10. What were Illinois Wesleyan’s key achievements in 2025? Undefeated CCIW season, tournament champions, hosted NCAA Regional, reached No. 2 national ranking.
Key Citations:
- CCIW Official Announcement
- Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics
- Carthage College Athletics
- AVCA Division III Awards
- CCIW Standings
Comments
Post a Comment