SMU’s Anyanwu, Davis Named to AVCA Player of the Year Watch List

DALLAS, Texas (TXAN 24) — Two SMU volleyball standouts have earned national preseason recognition as junior middle blocker Favor Anyanwu and sophomore outside hitter Suli Davis were named to the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year Watch List, presented by Nike Volleyball.

The preseason watch list features 30 players from 16 programs across the country, with Anyanwu and Davis among eight players representing the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Anyanwu, a Rowlett native, returns after helping lead SMU to its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance.

She recorded 178 blocks last season, ranking fifth nationally, while adding 206 kills and posting a .409 hitting percentage—the second-highest single-season mark in program history.

She earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA Southwest Region First Team and All-ACC Second Team honors.

Davis joined the Mustangs after a record-setting freshman campaign at BYU. The Euless native totaled 541 kills, the most ever by a BYU freshman, and finished 12th nationally in kills.

She also posted 30 double-digit kill matches, 10 performances with at least 20 kills and 10 double-doubles while earning AVCA Second Team All-

America recognition.

The AVCA Player of the Year Watch List will be updated throughout the 2026 season as the nation’s top players compete for college volleyball’s highest individual honor.