Six Owls Earn C-USA All-Conference Accolades
11/20/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DALLAS – The No. 21 Rice Owls volleyball team placed a league-high six players on the C-USA all-conference teams, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Earning first-team status were junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon and sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle, while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham, middle blocker Grace Morgan, and setter Adria Martinez received second-team nods.
Outside hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer also earned a spot on the seven-member all-freshman team, marking the seventh consecutive season the Owls have been represented.
The six selections for the Owls marks the sixth consecutive season that Rice has placed five or more players on all-conference teams.
Lennon was named to the C-USA First Team for a second straight year after posting one of the best seasons in school history. Lennon established a league record with seven C-USA Offensive Player of the Week awards, backing up her C-USA Preseason Player of the Year accolades. The junior ranks ninth in the NCAA in kills per set (4.82-1st in C-USA) and 13th in points per set (5.21-1st in C-USA). Just selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team, Lennon has recorded 16 double-doubles this season and has six matches with 20 or more kills. The Katy, Texas native has totaled 411 kills, 293 digs and 444.0 points.
Adekunle currently ranks seventh in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.425) and stepped up her game even more in league play, ranking second in C-USA with a .462 hitting percentage, sixth in kills per set (3.60), and sixth in blocks per set (1.11). Adekunle was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14 and was a C-USA Preseason honoree. She ranks second on the Owls in total kills (279), kills per set (3.21), total attacks (520), blocks per set (0.84) and points (325.0). Adekunle was a second-team selection last season and on the all-freshman team.
Cunningham, who was also named to the C-USA All-Academic Team on Tuesday, ranks fifth among all C-USA players in digs per set (4.63) and is sixth in total digs (407). Earlier this season, Cunningham became just the second Owl in school history to surpass 2,000 career digs. The Louisville, Ky. native was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21 and was one of 30 Senior CLASS nominees. This marks the third straight season Cunningham has been named to an all-conference team.
Morgan earned her third straight all-conference accolade by ranking fourth in C-USA during league play in hitting percentage (.371). The Crowley, La. native joined Cunningham as two of Senior CLASS nominees and leads the Owls with 74 blocks. Morgan earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18.
Martinez has helped one of the more proficient offenses in the country, which ranks third in kills per set (14.72), ninth in assists per set (13.50), and 18th in hitting percentage (.275). Despite playing as part of a two-setter system (6-2), Martinez ranks 10th during league play in assists per set (7.18) and is sixth in service aces per set (0.33).
Bichelmeyer is third on the team in kills per set (1.97) and fourth on the Owls in total kills (138) and points (157.5). The Mission Hills, Kan. native was fourth on the team in points (91.5) during league play and hit .203 with 81 kills.
Rice will be hosting the Conference USA Tournament this weekend, Nov. 22-24 at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls have put together a 24-2, 13-1 campaign and will first play UTEP on Friday at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Yumi Garcia, Charlotte
Massiel Matos, Florida Atlantic
Ciara Debell, Marshall
Rhett Robinson, North Texas
Valerie Valerian, North Texas
Nicole Lennon, Rice
Anota Adekunle, Rice
Kara Teal, UTSA
Lauren Matthews, WKU
Nadia Dieudonne, WKU
Paige Briggs, WKU
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Sydney Rowan, Charlotte
Sigourney Kame, Florida Atlantic
Zuri Smith, Florida Atlantic
Sydney Nemtuda, Florida Atlantic
Dora Peonia, Middle Tennessee
Kaliegh Skopal, North Texas
Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice
Adria Martinez, Rice
Grace Morgan, Rice
Cheyenne Jones, UTEP
Sophia Cerino, WKU
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Kayla Henley, Middle Tennessee
Alysha Johnson, North Texas
Ellie Bichelmeyer, Rice
Fernanda Maida, UAB
Rachel Morse, UAB
Bianca Ejesieme, UTSA
Paige Briggs, WKU
-RiceOwls.com-
Earning first-team status were junior outside hitter Nicole Lennon and sophomore middle blocker Anota Adekunle, while senior libero Lee Ann Cunningham, middle blocker Grace Morgan, and setter Adria Martinez received second-team nods.
Outside hitter Ellie Bichelmeyer also earned a spot on the seven-member all-freshman team, marking the seventh consecutive season the Owls have been represented.
The six selections for the Owls marks the sixth consecutive season that Rice has placed five or more players on all-conference teams.
Lennon was named to the C-USA First Team for a second straight year after posting one of the best seasons in school history. Lennon established a league record with seven C-USA Offensive Player of the Week awards, backing up her C-USA Preseason Player of the Year accolades. The junior ranks ninth in the NCAA in kills per set (4.82-1st in C-USA) and 13th in points per set (5.21-1st in C-USA). Just selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team, Lennon has recorded 16 double-doubles this season and has six matches with 20 or more kills. The Katy, Texas native has totaled 411 kills, 293 digs and 444.0 points.
Adekunle currently ranks seventh in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.425) and stepped up her game even more in league play, ranking second in C-USA with a .462 hitting percentage, sixth in kills per set (3.60), and sixth in blocks per set (1.11). Adekunle was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14 and was a C-USA Preseason honoree. She ranks second on the Owls in total kills (279), kills per set (3.21), total attacks (520), blocks per set (0.84) and points (325.0). Adekunle was a second-team selection last season and on the all-freshman team.
Cunningham, who was also named to the C-USA All-Academic Team on Tuesday, ranks fifth among all C-USA players in digs per set (4.63) and is sixth in total digs (407). Earlier this season, Cunningham became just the second Owl in school history to surpass 2,000 career digs. The Louisville, Ky. native was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21 and was one of 30 Senior CLASS nominees. This marks the third straight season Cunningham has been named to an all-conference team.
Morgan earned her third straight all-conference accolade by ranking fourth in C-USA during league play in hitting percentage (.371). The Crowley, La. native joined Cunningham as two of Senior CLASS nominees and leads the Owls with 74 blocks. Morgan earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18.
Martinez has helped one of the more proficient offenses in the country, which ranks third in kills per set (14.72), ninth in assists per set (13.50), and 18th in hitting percentage (.275). Despite playing as part of a two-setter system (6-2), Martinez ranks 10th during league play in assists per set (7.18) and is sixth in service aces per set (0.33).
Bichelmeyer is third on the team in kills per set (1.97) and fourth on the Owls in total kills (138) and points (157.5). The Mission Hills, Kan. native was fourth on the team in points (91.5) during league play and hit .203 with 81 kills.
Rice will be hosting the Conference USA Tournament this weekend, Nov. 22-24 at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls have put together a 24-2, 13-1 campaign and will first play UTEP on Friday at 5 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Yumi Garcia, Charlotte
Massiel Matos, Florida Atlantic
Ciara Debell, Marshall
Rhett Robinson, North Texas
Valerie Valerian, North Texas
Nicole Lennon, Rice
Anota Adekunle, Rice
Kara Teal, UTSA
Lauren Matthews, WKU
Nadia Dieudonne, WKU
Paige Briggs, WKU
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Sydney Rowan, Charlotte
Sigourney Kame, Florida Atlantic
Zuri Smith, Florida Atlantic
Sydney Nemtuda, Florida Atlantic
Dora Peonia, Middle Tennessee
Kaliegh Skopal, North Texas
Lee Ann Cunningham, Rice
Adria Martinez, Rice
Grace Morgan, Rice
Cheyenne Jones, UTEP
Sophia Cerino, WKU
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Kayla Henley, Middle Tennessee
Alysha Johnson, North Texas
Ellie Bichelmeyer, Rice
Fernanda Maida, UAB
Rachel Morse, UAB
Bianca Ejesieme, UTSA
Paige Briggs, WKU
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballVB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02