BIRMINGHAM – Following a week of two wins, two UAH volleyball players have earned Gulf South Conference weekly honors. Senior middle blocker Kayla Ward has been named the GSC Offensive Player of the Week while junior libero Brooklyn Stiles earned GSC Defensive Player of the Week.

Across a 3-1 win against Mississippi Christian and a 3-0 sweep of West Alabama, Ward led the team in total kills with 24, 3.42 per set, total blocks with 8.5, seven of which were solo, and points with 32.5. She also added six total digs, five of which came against the Choctaws.

Stiles led the defensive effort for the Chargers with a team-high 39 digs, 5.57 per set, between both matches. She recorded 21 digs against Mississippi Christian before adding another 18 the following day against the Tigers. Additionally, the junior added three assists between both wins and scored three service aces against West Alabama.

For the season, Ward leads UAH in kills with 145 while swinging at a 0.389 efficiency, which leads the GSC. She is averaging 2.54 kills per set while also averaging the sixth most points per set, 3.22, in the GSC. UAH ranks first in the conference in kills per set with an average of 13.12.

Stiles leads the Chargers with 242 digs, 4.25 per set, while ranking seventh in the GSC in digs per set and total digs. She leads a defensive effort that has UAH ranked third in the conference in digs per set, 16.67.

The Chargers continue their season today in Cleveland, Tennessee, against Lee at 5 p.m. CT. UAH will remain on the road the remainder of the week with a Friday, October 9, match at AUM at 5 p.m. before following up with a 1 p.m. match at Valdosta State on Saturday.

2026 GSC Volleyball Weekly Award Winners for the season:

Offensive Player of the Week

Sep. 1: Mallory Hulsey, Montevallo

Sept. 8: Cooper Garrett, UAH

Sept. 15: Paola Aviles, Valdosta State

Sept. 22: Jordyn Butler, Lee

Sept. 29: Katilyn Grant, Trevecca Nazarene

Oct. 6: Kayla Ward, UAH

Defensive Player of the Week

Sept. 1: Ava Wind, Montevallo

Sept. 8: Eimy Negron Domenech, Valdosta State

Sept. 15: Sophia Nowacki, Christian Brothers

Sept. 22: Sarah Helms, Christian Brothers

Sept. 29: Lily Vanbebber, Trevecca Nazarene

Oct. 6: Brooklyn Stiles

Freshman Player of the Week

Sept. 1: Rachele Zanini, West Alabama

Sept. 8: Rachele Zanini, West Alabama

Sept. 15: Duru Seber, West Alabama

Sept. 22: Rachele Zanini, West Alabama

Sept. 29: Rachele Zanini, West Alabama

Oct. 6: Ellie Scharlow, Montevallo