LEXINGTON, Ky. (SMU/AVCA) - Junior middle blocker Favor Anyanwu and sophomore outside hitter Suli Davis have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year Watch List, presented by Nike Volleyball, the association announced on Wednesday.
It marks the first AVCA preseason recognition for both athletes. Anyanwu makes the player of the year watch list for the second time in her career after being added to the list midseason last season.
The 2026 Preseason Watch List includes 30 players from 16 teams. Anyanwu and Davis are two of eight athletes that represent the ACC on the list.
Anyanwu returns to SMU after a standout season on the Mustangs' first Sweet Sixteen team. The Rowlett, Texas native led the Mustangs in blocks with 178, which ranked fifth nationally. The middle blocker also added 206 kills while hitting .409, the second-highest percentage in program history for a single season. Anyanwu earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and Southwest Region First Team honors while also bringing in All-ACC Second Team status last season.
Davis transferred to SMU after a decorated freshman season at BYU, highlighted by an AVCA Second Team All-America honor. Davis broke eight BYU freshman records in her lone season in Provo, most notably setting the program's freshman record for kills in a season with 541, which ranked 12th in the country. The Euless native led the Cougars with 30 double-digit kill matches, 10 matches with 20 or more kills and 10 double-doubles.
View the full watch list on the AVCA website.
