JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Fresh off of earning Atlantic Sun Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors, junior middle blocker Haley Yount was named the league's first Defensive Player of the Week for the 2026 season. This is Yount's second ASUN Defensive Player of the Week award, winning after opening weekend last season as well.

Yount was a force to be reckoned with at the net in the Gamecock Classic. In the season opener, she tallied seven blocks in a three-set sweep over Southern. She followed that up with four blocks, including a solo block, in back-to-back matches against Jacksonville State and Southern Mississippi. In all, Yount tallied 15 blocks, averaging 1.36 per set over the first three matches of the season.

Haley Yount: The Closer

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— Jacksonville Volleyball ?? (@JAX_Volleyball) August 29, 2026
 

Not only was she a presence at the net defensively, Yount added 15 kills (1.36 per set) while also pitching in three service aces and five digs from the back row.

Haley Yount brings the boom!

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— Jacksonville Volleyball ?? (@JAX_Volleyball) August 29, 2026
 

The Dolphins went 2-1 in the opening weekend, collecting wins against Southern and Jacksonville State before a five-set loss to Southern Miss. Jacksonville returns to Historic Swisher Gymnasium this weekend for the Dolphin Volleyball Classic presented by Hampton Inn East Regency. JU plays its first home match of the season Friday at 7 PM against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The Dolphins will also face the UConn Huskies (Saturday, 2 PM) and Florida A&M Rattlers (Sunday, 2 PM).