Lennon, Cunningham Capture AVCA All-America Honors
12/12/2018 9:27:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Become 14th/15th Owls to earn All-America accolades
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – For the first time in their respective careers, Rice sophomore Nicole Lennon and junior Lee Ann Cunningham were named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-Americans on Wednesday.
After earning AVCA All-South Region awards earlier this month, Lennon and Cunningham give Rice 14 AVCA All-America selections in program history.
Along with the AVCA honors, Lennon and Cunningham were both named to the Conference USA's First Team-Team All-Conference, as well as junior middle blocker Grace Morgan. Lennon was the program's first player to be named C-USA Player of the Year and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Lennon led the Owls in double-doubles (19), total points (542.0; 2nd C-USA), points per set (4.59; 3rd C-USA), total kills (482; 2nd C-USA), kills per set (4.08; 3rd C-USA) and total attacks (1,204; 4th C-USA). She was also second on the Owls in total digs (370; 11th C-USA) and digs per set (2.83).
Cunningham was selected to the C-USA First Team for the first time in her career and was a four-time recipient of the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week. She led the Owls in total digs (574; 2nd C-USA) and digs per set (4.86; 3rd C-USA). Cunningham had 20 or more digs in 12 matches and helped anchor a Rice defense that led all of C-USA and ranks 35th in hitting percentage (.165).
The Owls finished the 2018 season with a 24-7 overall record as Rice reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history and swept both the C-USA regular season and conference tournament titles.
-RiceOwls.com-
After earning AVCA All-South Region awards earlier this month, Lennon and Cunningham give Rice 14 AVCA All-America selections in program history.
Along with the AVCA honors, Lennon and Cunningham were both named to the Conference USA's First Team-Team All-Conference, as well as junior middle blocker Grace Morgan. Lennon was the program's first player to be named C-USA Player of the Year and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Lennon led the Owls in double-doubles (19), total points (542.0; 2nd C-USA), points per set (4.59; 3rd C-USA), total kills (482; 2nd C-USA), kills per set (4.08; 3rd C-USA) and total attacks (1,204; 4th C-USA). She was also second on the Owls in total digs (370; 11th C-USA) and digs per set (2.83).
Cunningham was selected to the C-USA First Team for the first time in her career and was a four-time recipient of the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week. She led the Owls in total digs (574; 2nd C-USA) and digs per set (4.86; 3rd C-USA). Cunningham had 20 or more digs in 12 matches and helped anchor a Rice defense that led all of C-USA and ranks 35th in hitting percentage (.165).
The Owls finished the 2018 season with a 24-7 overall record as Rice reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history and swept both the C-USA regular season and conference tournament titles.
-RiceOwls.com-
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