Volleyball Adds Pair of Transfers for 2025

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison volleyball program and Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher have added two transfers to its program for the 2025 season.

Outside hitter Kennedy Louisell (Lou-ee-sell) and libero Sydney Lewis have officially signed with the Dukes and will have two seasons of eligibility. Louisell spent the first two seasons of her career at High Point, while Lewis joins JMU from Sun Belt rival Coastal Carolina.

"I could not be more excited and grateful to welcome Sydney and Kennedy to JMU!" Steinbrecher said. "They both embody the character traits we relentlessly pursue and develop in our program. I can't wait to start coaching them as our 2025 Dukes fight to win a Sun Belt Championship and do things never done before in our program."

Kennedy Louisell | 6-0 | Junior | Outside Hitter | Grand Rapids, Mich. | High Point

Spent the first two seasons of her career at High Point, totaling 230 kills (2.02 per set) and 121 digs (1.06 per set)
Appeared in 87 sets and all 30 matches for High Point in 2024
Finished with 194 kills (2.23 per set) and a .189 hitting percentage
Tallied 42 kills (4.66 per set) in two matches at Erie Insurance Invitational
Recorded a season-high 23 kills against Western Michigan on Sept. 14
Also had 19 kills and nine digs against JMU on Sept. 14

"Kennedy has been a pleasure to talk with and get to know from the very beginning!" said Steinbrecher. "It was quickly evident that her values aligned with our program and that we wanted her as a Duke. Kennedy is an explosive athlete with a terminal arm and an elite work ethic. It will be exciting to be able to start training her in January, along with the rest of the team. We believe the sky is the limit for her and can't wait to see how she pours into this program and team in pursuit of our best. It truly is an exciting time to be a Duke!"

Sydney Lewis | 5-8 | Junior | Libero | Saint Johns, Fla. | Coastal Carolina

Joins the Dukes after two seasons at Coastal Carolina
Has totaled 903 digs (4.07 per set) in two seasons with the Chanticleers
Named Second Team All-Sun Belt following the 2023 season after recording 450 digs (4.33 per set)
In her sophomore season, finished with 453 digs (3.84 per set) and 138 assists (1.17 per set)
Season-high in digs (44) and assists (12) in a five-set win over South Alabama on Nov. 16

"Sydney joins us from a very competitive program where she was a two-year starter and earned Sun Belt All-Conference honors," Steinbrecher said. "Her collegiate experience in the backcourt will help elevate our first ball contacts and ball control in a very competitive league. Everyone we have spoken to raves about what a great teammate Syd is and how much she likes to work and be pushed. We are grateful she decided to be a Duke and I am looking forward to the memories we will make over the next two years and beyond!"

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Players Mentioned

Kennedy Louisell

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Calendar

Completed Event: Volleyball versus #17 Missouri on August 29, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 3 , (19-25, 15-25, 20-25)

Completed Event: Volleyball at Florida Gulf Coast on August 30, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3 , (19-25, 11-25, 25-16, 20-25)

Completed Event: Volleyball at Florida Gulf Coast on August 31, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3 , (17-25, 27-25, 23-25, 26-24, 11-15)

Completed Event: Volleyball versus Bellarmine on September 5, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0 , (27-25, 25-18, 25-20)

Completed Event: Volleyball versus Princeton on September 6, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1 , (26-24, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17)

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Lehigh on September 7, 2025 at 2 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Milwaukee on September 12, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. CT)

Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Marquette on September 13, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Ball State on September 14, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT)

Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus UT Rio Grande Valley on September 19, 2025 at 6 p.m.

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