Conway, S.C., October 21, 2025
News Summary
James Madison University (JMU) celebrated a critical victory over Coastal Carolina in a four-set match, halting Coastal Carolina’s six-match win streak. With strong performances from Kennedy Louisell and Ana Toumazatos, JMU improved its overall record while maintaining a solid team hitting percentage. This victory not only tied both teams for first place in the Sun Belt East Division but also set the stage for an anticipated rematch soon after.
Conway, S.C. – James Madison University Volleyball Shatters Coastal Carolina’s Six-Match Win Streak
James Madison University (JMU) achieved a significant victory over Coastal Carolina in a thrilling four-set match, concluding with scores of 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, and 25-22 on October 17, 2025. The match took place at the HTC Center in Conway, S.C. This victory marked a pivotal moment for JMU, enhancing their overall record to 14-6 and conference record to 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
This win brought a stunning halt to Coastal Carolina’s six-match win streak, landing their record at 14-5 overall and 6-2 in the Sun Belt. Both teams are now tied for first place in the Sun Belt East Division as they continue their rigorous chase for the top spot.
Leading JMU’s offensive effort was Kennedy Louisell, who delivered a standout performance with 16 kills, making a crucial contribution to the victory. Freshman Ana Toumazatos supported the team’s push with 12 kills while achieving an impressive hitting percentage of .462. Anna Wilson also made a mark, matching her career-high with 10 kills.
JMU maintained a strong hitting team percentage of .306 throughout the match, marking their third consecutive game hitting above .300—a notable accomplishment for the squad. The team was well-supported in the setting department, with Rebecca Watkins providing 25 assists and Grace Wenrich contributing an additional 23 assists.
Defensively, JMU showcased resilience, recording a total of 10 blocks. Melisa Ilter, Ayen Nhial, and Anna Wilson each succeeded in blocking four shots, helping to neutralize Coastal Carolina’s offense. Julia McNeley stood out on defense as well, reaching a season-high of 23 digs, which tied her career best.
Coastal Carolina’s Jalyn Stout delivered an extraordinary performance despite the loss, achieving a triple-double with 16 kills, 24 assists, and 15 digs. Supporting Stout, Emily Fowler and Anzley Rinard contributed 13 and 12 kills, respectively, keeping the match competitive until the end.
The match unfolded with JMU leading 15-13 at the media timeout in the first set, ultimately taking the set 25-20. However, Coastal Carolina regained their footing, winning the second set 25-22, thus tying the match at one set apiece. JMU responded strongly to win the third set 25-22 and mirrored that performance by sealing the fourth set with the same score to clinch the match.
Notably, Louisell’s 16 kills extended her season total to 387, placing her 10th on JMU’s single-season kills list, surpassing the previous record of 385 set by Emilee Hussack in the 204 season.
The two teams are set to face off again in a rematch on October 18, 2025, at 2 p.m., which holds the potential for more high-stakes action in the Sun Belt Conference.
Key Match Stats
- JMU Record: 14-6 overall, 7-1 Sun Belt
- Coastal Carolina Record: 14-5 overall, 6-2 Sun Belt
- JMU Kills Leaders: Kennedy Louisell (16), Ana Toumazatos (12), Anna Wilson (10)
- Assist Leaders: Rebecca Watkins (25), Grace Wenrich (23)
- Digs Leader: Julia McNeley (23)
- Block Leaders: Melisa Ilter (4), Ayen Nhial (4), Anna Wilson (4)
- Coastal Carolina Triple-Double: Jalyn Stout (16 kills, 24 assists, 15 digs)
Upcoming Match
JMU and Coastal Carolina are scheduled to meet again on October 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. for a continuation of this exciting series.
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HERE Resources
Coastal Carolina University Celebrates Graduation of Chauncey
Additional Resources
- JMU Sports: Volleyball Dominant in Sweep of Coastal Carolina
- Wikipedia: Volleyball
- Rocktown Now: JMU Volleyball Hands Coastal Carolina Its First Sun Belt Loss
- Google Search: JMU Volleyball
- Coastal Carolina Sports: Volleyball Winning Streak Ends with Loss to JMU
- Google Scholar: Volleyball Statistics
- App State Sports: JMU Volleyball Boxscore
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Volleyball
- JMU Sports: Volleyball Wins Fourth Straight, Sweeps Marshall
- Google News: JMU Volleyball News
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