Record-Tying Four Owls Named to AVCA Southwest Team
12/10/2019 9:20:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON – Fresh off earning their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, the Rice volleyball team set more history on Tuesday with four Owls - Anota Adekunle, Lee Ann Cunningham, Nicole Lennon, Grace Morgan - earning spots on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Southwest All-Region Team.
The four AVCA All-Region selections ties Texas for the most in the region and matches the school record four Owls (Natalie Bogan, Tracey Lam, Ashleigh McCord, Meredith Schamun) selected in 2009, then as part of the AVCA Midwest Region.
Lennon, who was also named to the C-USA First Team, earned AVCA All-Region honors for a second straight year by recording 505 kills (4th-most in a Rice single-season) and 362 digs. 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 11th in the NCAA in kills per set (4.78-1st in C-USA) and 15th in points per set (5.22-1st in C-USA). Also selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team, Lennon recorded 20 double-doubles this season and had eight matches with 20 or more kills.
Adekunle earned her first career AVCA All-Region accolade by ranking sixth in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.425- Rice single-season record). A C-USA First Team selection, Adekunle 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 ranked second on the Owls in total kills (340), kills per set (3.18), total attacks (634), blocks per set (0.86) and points (398.0).
An AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention last year, Cunningham earned C-USA All-Conference honors (Second Team) for the third time in her career and was also named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. The Louisville, Ky. native concluded her illustrious career with the second-most sets played (470) in program history and ranks second in career digs (2,162). This season Cunningham ranked fifth among all C-USA players in both digs per set (4.61) and total digs (484). Earlier this year, Cunningham was one of 30 Senior CLASS nominees.
Morgan earned her third consecutive AVCA All-Region honor by ranking fourth in C-USA in hitting percentage (.363) and ninth in blocks per set (0.91). The Crowley, La. native hit a sensational .371 during league play and concluded her career as the Owls all-time leader in hitting percentage (.354) while also ranking seventh in total blocks (431.0). Along with Cunningham, Morgan was one of two Owls nominated for the national Senior CLASS award. Morgan earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18 and was selected to the C-USA All-Tournament Team.
Since 1993, the Owls have earned 31 AVCA All-Region selections by 22 different individuals.
The No. 21 Owls finished the 2019 season with a 27-4 overall record, the second-most wins in program history.
-RiceOwls.com-
The four AVCA All-Region selections ties Texas for the most in the region and matches the school record four Owls (Natalie Bogan, Tracey Lam, Ashleigh McCord, Meredith Schamun) selected in 2009, then as part of the AVCA Midwest Region.
Lennon, who was also named to the C-USA First Team, earned AVCA All-Region honors for a second straight year by recording 505 kills (4th-most in a Rice single-season) and 362 digs. 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 11th in the NCAA in kills per set (4.78-1st in C-USA) and 15th in points per set (5.22-1st in C-USA). Also selected to the C-USA All-Academic Team, Lennon recorded 20 double-doubles this season and had eight matches with 20 or more kills.
Adekunle earned her first career AVCA All-Region accolade by ranking sixth in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.425- Rice single-season record). A C-USA First Team selection, Adekunle 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 ranked second on the Owls in total kills (340), kills per set (3.18), total attacks (634), blocks per set (0.86) and points (398.0).
An AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention last year, Cunningham earned C-USA All-Conference honors (Second Team) for the third time in her career and was also named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. The Louisville, Ky. native concluded her illustrious career with the second-most sets played (470) in program history and ranks second in career digs (2,162). This season Cunningham ranked fifth among all C-USA players in both digs per set (4.61) and total digs (484). Earlier this year, Cunningham was one of 30 Senior CLASS nominees.
Morgan earned her third consecutive AVCA All-Region honor by ranking fourth in C-USA in hitting percentage (.363) and ninth in blocks per set (0.91). The Crowley, La. native hit a sensational .371 during league play and concluded her career as the Owls all-time leader in hitting percentage (.354) while also ranking seventh in total blocks (431.0). Along with Cunningham, Morgan was one of two Owls nominated for the national Senior CLASS award. Morgan earned C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 18 and was selected to the C-USA All-Tournament Team.
Since 1993, the Owls have earned 31 AVCA All-Region selections by 22 different individuals.
The No. 21 Owls finished the 2019 season with a 27-4 overall record, the second-most wins in program history.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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