COLUMBUS, Miss.- The W volleyball has had four of its squad members honored on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® team, it was announced. Recognized from the Owls' roster were Megan Neeb (Columbus, Miss./New Hope H.S.), Avery Watts (Russellville, Ala./Russellville H.S.), Kinsley Kennedy (Panama City, Fla./Mosley H.S.), and Bailee Schmitt (Long Beach, Miss./Long Beach H.S.).

The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
 
To earn Academic All-District® honors, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing and hold a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average. Additionally, each must appear in at least 90 percent – or start 66 percent – of their team's games played.

"It is an expectation in our program to do everything with excellence," MUW Head Coach Breylee Linder said. "So, it is great to see our players get rewarded for their effort in the classroom, in addition to their success on the court.  Megan, Avery, Kinsley, and Bailee are players who work exceptionally hard - not only in practice, but in all facets of their lives. We see it every day, and they are so deserving of the recognition."

Neeb, a sophomore outside hitter, had a banner season, both on the court and in the classroom, as well. In her second season with the Owls, Neeb earned first-team All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) honors for her efforts in leading The W to its first-ever conference postseason tournament in 2025. Neeb averaged 3.08 kills, 0.28 aces, and 2.36 digs per set, to go along with a .901 receiving percentage. She is a kinesiology major at MUW.

Because of her elite statistics and classroom prowess, Neeb was selected to advance for consideration for the CSC Academic All-America® Volleyball Team, due to be announced in early January.

Watts, also a sophomore outside hitter, likewise just completed her second season in the Owls' colors. Watts played and started 31matches this season, appearing in 118 of a possible 122 sets. She is a chemistry major at The W.

Kennedy, a junior transfer, came to the Owls' team after playing two seasons at Southern Union State Community College in Alabama. In her first year in Columbus, Kennedy set the school's modern era single-match record for assists in matches going three sets (46, vs. Blackburn on 11/13/25), four sets (54, vs. Blackburn on 10/19/25), and five sets (49, vs. Huntingdon on 10/15/25). She also obliterated the MUW season record with her 1,119 assists in 2025 (was 456 by Hannah Duran in 2024). Kennedy will head into the 2026 campaign needing just 67 assists to surpass Duran's career record of 1,185 "helps" in 2021-24. She is a Kinesiology major, as well.

Schmitt, is a junior defensive specialist for the Owls. Schmitt is in her third year with the program and received the Academic All-District® award for the second consecutive season. Schmitt appeared in all 32 of MUW's matches and played in 120 of 122 sets. Schmitt posted a team-leading .940 reception percentage, charged with just 23 errors in 386 receptions. She is a biology major at The W.