Rice University Athletics
Adekunle Making Her Mark
5/18/2020 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Two years into her Rice career, soon-to-be junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle has already helped the Owls' volleyball team achieve success never before seen in the program's history.
The Owls have earned the right to play in the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons and this past year put together their best campaign yet, going 27-4 and sweeping Oklahoma to advance to the Round of 32 for the first time in school history.
Rice finished the 2019 season ranked No. 24 in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll and along the way recorded a "where were you when" moment when they sent Tudor Fieldhouse into pandemonium on Sept. 18 with a thrilling five-set victory over the then No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns.
Put it all together and the Owls have compiled a 51-11 record (25-3 in conference play) over the last two seasons and a big reason why is the contributions from the high-flying native from Humble, Texas.
Adekunle ranked sixth in the NCAA last season in hitting percentage, setting a single-season school record with a .423 clip. She earned both AVCA and VolleyballMag.com All-America Honorable Mention honors and was one of four Owls named to the AVCA Southwest Team. In addition, Adekunle was selected to the C-USA First Team and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament squad a year removed from being named 2018 C-USA Tournament MVP as a freshman.
Although Adekunle's individual accomplishments jump off the floor nearly as high as the time she was measured hitting 10 feet-8 inches, the Summer Creek High School graduate knows that much of last season's accomplishments can be credited to the team's cohesiveness.
"I think a big part of last year had to do with how tight we were and our togetherness," said Adekunle. "We were very determined and had set goals at the beginning of the year and we needed everyone to be all in. We were all on the same page and knew what we wanted for each other. I credit my teammates and coaching staff for the individual accomplishments. They're always willing to work with me and give me good tips to help maximize my game."
Prior to graduating from high school, Adekunle was seeking a college home that provided the right mix of athletic and academic growth. Enter Rice University.
Now a double major in Kinesiology and Neuroscience, Adekunle looks back fondly on the recruiting process with a nod to Rice's prestigious academics and medical school as a big reason why she decided to stay close to home.
"Rice wanted me from the beginning of my recruiting process," said Adekunle. "At first I wanted to go far away from home (laughs). But I took a closer look at Rice because I did eventually want to go to med school, and I was thinking about my future after volleyball. Obviously, Rice presents so many opportunities in that field and then after I toured the beautiful campus and met the coaching staff and the team, it drew me in automatically. Just thinking it could be my home for the next four years was comforting and it's close to home but not too close (laughs)."
In life after volleyball, Adekunle would like to become a neurologist and is fascinated working with the human brain.
This past February, Adekunle and teammate Nicole Lennon were two of 214 athletes that competed at the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Open Tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.
Adekunle would become one of just 28 players to earn a spot on the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team (Anaheim roster) comprised of current collegiate athletes. The CNT-Anaheim team is tentatively set to train June 21-27 in Anaheim where they will compete side-by-side with the U.S. Women's National Team. Although that competition is currently up in the air due to the pandemic, Adekunle gained valuable insight that she can carry over to next season.
"It was an amazing experience and I'm so happy I was able to go, especially with Nicole," Adekunle said. "We were nervous just to be there but to have each other there to be able to encourage one another through the process was very nice. Everyone there was so proud to represent Team USA and it was a very positive environment. When I found out I made the team it was very exciting. I was actually in class when I got the e-mail and when it ended, I ran out and called my mom. I was extremely grateful."
While Adekunle's success on the court is evident she's also knows there is room for growth and that's why she went into the CNT training with open eyes and open ears.
"The biggest thing I took away from the competition was just to strive to be an all-around player," she said. "I know for myself, I'm stationary a lot of the times and don't run behind the setter. I think I can get better at my slides, going behind the setter and becoming more comfortable doing that. Also, to be a complete player I need to improve my passing and serving. Playing against some of the best competition and seeing how versatile they were taught me a lot."
Like everyone else across the nation, the Owls saw their spring season cut short due to COVID-19, and while there was disappointment in not being able to get back on the floor against opposing teams, Adekunle said it gave her and the Owls an opportunity to reflect.
"At first it was pretty devastating and of course we were worried, but after we spoke about it as a team, it's kind of given me a stronger mentality," said Adekunle. "I've been doing as much as I can to stay healthy and keep up with my workouts. The work I've been putting in during this time has been on my own and so it's forced me to dig a little deeper mentally and just know that all of what I'm doing is for my team and to try to view it as a positive."
Adekunle also mentioned that the team has been participating in FaceTime workouts with one another, maintaining accountability while also keeping up team camaraderie. And of course, there's the Zoom calls, which have helped with team bonding during the trying times.
In 2020, Adekunle will find herself as one of the team veterans with nine underclassmen by her side. While the all-conference performer is sometimes seen as soft-spoken, she knows an opportunity exists to take a bigger leadership role.
"I had a conversation with Coach Volpe that this will be an opportunity to be more vocal. I tend to be kind of quiet and more lead-by-example, but we're going to be missing some strong vocal leaders with the departure of Adria (Martinez) and Lee Ann (Cunningham) to graduation. This will be a chance for me to express myself more and try to be more vocal when opportunity presents itself."
With her Rice journey is at its midway point, Adekunle is grateful the way the last two seasons have played out but acknowledges there's still loftier goals on the horizon.
"We know that this isn't the end and we can't get complacent," she said. "We're always working to get better in something each day. We want to leave the gym knowing we got better at at least one thing every day. We know our past success doesn't determine our future success. We're happy with what we've accomplished but we still want to progress."
The sky is the limit for Adekunle and the Owls, both literally and figuratively.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Owls have earned the right to play in the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons and this past year put together their best campaign yet, going 27-4 and sweeping Oklahoma to advance to the Round of 32 for the first time in school history.
Rice finished the 2019 season ranked No. 24 in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll and along the way recorded a "where were you when" moment when they sent Tudor Fieldhouse into pandemonium on Sept. 18 with a thrilling five-set victory over the then No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns.
Put it all together and the Owls have compiled a 51-11 record (25-3 in conference play) over the last two seasons and a big reason why is the contributions from the high-flying native from Humble, Texas.
Adekunle ranked sixth in the NCAA last season in hitting percentage, setting a single-season school record with a .423 clip. She earned both AVCA and VolleyballMag.com All-America Honorable Mention honors and was one of four Owls named to the AVCA Southwest Team. In addition, Adekunle was selected to the C-USA First Team and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament squad a year removed from being named 2018 C-USA Tournament MVP as a freshman.
Although Adekunle's individual accomplishments jump off the floor nearly as high as the time she was measured hitting 10 feet-8 inches, the Summer Creek High School graduate knows that much of last season's accomplishments can be credited to the team's cohesiveness.
"I think a big part of last year had to do with how tight we were and our togetherness," said Adekunle. "We were very determined and had set goals at the beginning of the year and we needed everyone to be all in. We were all on the same page and knew what we wanted for each other. I credit my teammates and coaching staff for the individual accomplishments. They're always willing to work with me and give me good tips to help maximize my game."
Prior to graduating from high school, Adekunle was seeking a college home that provided the right mix of athletic and academic growth. Enter Rice University.
Now a double major in Kinesiology and Neuroscience, Adekunle looks back fondly on the recruiting process with a nod to Rice's prestigious academics and medical school as a big reason why she decided to stay close to home.
"Rice wanted me from the beginning of my recruiting process," said Adekunle. "At first I wanted to go far away from home (laughs). But I took a closer look at Rice because I did eventually want to go to med school, and I was thinking about my future after volleyball. Obviously, Rice presents so many opportunities in that field and then after I toured the beautiful campus and met the coaching staff and the team, it drew me in automatically. Just thinking it could be my home for the next four years was comforting and it's close to home but not too close (laughs)."
In life after volleyball, Adekunle would like to become a neurologist and is fascinated working with the human brain.
This past February, Adekunle and teammate Nicole Lennon were two of 214 athletes that competed at the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team Open Tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.
Adekunle would become one of just 28 players to earn a spot on the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team (Anaheim roster) comprised of current collegiate athletes. The CNT-Anaheim team is tentatively set to train June 21-27 in Anaheim where they will compete side-by-side with the U.S. Women's National Team. Although that competition is currently up in the air due to the pandemic, Adekunle gained valuable insight that she can carry over to next season.
"It was an amazing experience and I'm so happy I was able to go, especially with Nicole," Adekunle said. "We were nervous just to be there but to have each other there to be able to encourage one another through the process was very nice. Everyone there was so proud to represent Team USA and it was a very positive environment. When I found out I made the team it was very exciting. I was actually in class when I got the e-mail and when it ended, I ran out and called my mom. I was extremely grateful."
While Adekunle's success on the court is evident she's also knows there is room for growth and that's why she went into the CNT training with open eyes and open ears.
"The biggest thing I took away from the competition was just to strive to be an all-around player," she said. "I know for myself, I'm stationary a lot of the times and don't run behind the setter. I think I can get better at my slides, going behind the setter and becoming more comfortable doing that. Also, to be a complete player I need to improve my passing and serving. Playing against some of the best competition and seeing how versatile they were taught me a lot."
Like everyone else across the nation, the Owls saw their spring season cut short due to COVID-19, and while there was disappointment in not being able to get back on the floor against opposing teams, Adekunle said it gave her and the Owls an opportunity to reflect.
"At first it was pretty devastating and of course we were worried, but after we spoke about it as a team, it's kind of given me a stronger mentality," said Adekunle. "I've been doing as much as I can to stay healthy and keep up with my workouts. The work I've been putting in during this time has been on my own and so it's forced me to dig a little deeper mentally and just know that all of what I'm doing is for my team and to try to view it as a positive."
Adekunle also mentioned that the team has been participating in FaceTime workouts with one another, maintaining accountability while also keeping up team camaraderie. And of course, there's the Zoom calls, which have helped with team bonding during the trying times.
In 2020, Adekunle will find herself as one of the team veterans with nine underclassmen by her side. While the all-conference performer is sometimes seen as soft-spoken, she knows an opportunity exists to take a bigger leadership role.
"I had a conversation with Coach Volpe that this will be an opportunity to be more vocal. I tend to be kind of quiet and more lead-by-example, but we're going to be missing some strong vocal leaders with the departure of Adria (Martinez) and Lee Ann (Cunningham) to graduation. This will be a chance for me to express myself more and try to be more vocal when opportunity presents itself."
With her Rice journey is at its midway point, Adekunle is grateful the way the last two seasons have played out but acknowledges there's still loftier goals on the horizon.
"We know that this isn't the end and we can't get complacent," she said. "We're always working to get better in something each day. We want to leave the gym knowing we got better at at least one thing every day. We know our past success doesn't determine our future success. We're happy with what we've accomplished but we still want to progress."
The sky is the limit for Adekunle and the Owls, both literally and figuratively.
-RiceOwls.com-
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