Volleyball Trio Named All-American by VolleyballMag.com
12/23/2022 11:52:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON — Rice Volleyball's Carly Graham was named Fourth Team All-American by VolleyballMag.com and Anota Adekunle and Nia McCardell were named Honorable Mention, the organization announced.
Graham was named to the team for the third straight year. She was the recipient of her third straight Conference USA Setter of the Year Award, becoming just the second player in C-USA history to earn the award three straight years. A five-time C-USA Setter of the Week, she led the league in assists (1,246) and was second in assists per game (10.56). She also led the Owls with 11 double-doubles while averaging 2.25 digs per set and hitting .297. Graham recorded 25 matches with 30+ assists and eight with 50+ assists, including a season-high 64 in the C-USA Championship win over No. 20 WKU. She also became the fourth player in school history and the 24th player in C-USA history with 4,000 career assists.
Adekunle was named to the team for the second time, having also earned the honor in the 2021 spring season. She was named First Team All-Conference for the fourth straight year and All-Conference for the fifth straight time. She ranks 10th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.413) and is Rice's all-time leader (.408). Adekunle also led the Owls in kills (363), kills per set (3.16), blocks (95) and points (430.5). A three-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, she notched double-figure kills 21 times and recorded 24 matches with a .300 hitting percentage. Against No. 18 Oregon, she notched her 1,000th career kill to become the 16th player in program history to accomplish the feat.
McCardell earns the honor after becoming the Conference USA Libero of the Year. She was the four-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week. She was second in the league in digs (515) and digs per set (4.72). In C-USA play, she was second in digs per set (4.35) and fourth in total digs (226). McCardell has 10 matches with at least 20 digs, including a career-high 36 against Texas Tech, the third-most in a match in school history.
Graham was named to the team for the third straight year. She was the recipient of her third straight Conference USA Setter of the Year Award, becoming just the second player in C-USA history to earn the award three straight years. A five-time C-USA Setter of the Week, she led the league in assists (1,246) and was second in assists per game (10.56). She also led the Owls with 11 double-doubles while averaging 2.25 digs per set and hitting .297. Graham recorded 25 matches with 30+ assists and eight with 50+ assists, including a season-high 64 in the C-USA Championship win over No. 20 WKU. She also became the fourth player in school history and the 24th player in C-USA history with 4,000 career assists.
Adekunle was named to the team for the second time, having also earned the honor in the 2021 spring season. She was named First Team All-Conference for the fourth straight year and All-Conference for the fifth straight time. She ranks 10th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.413) and is Rice's all-time leader (.408). Adekunle also led the Owls in kills (363), kills per set (3.16), blocks (95) and points (430.5). A three-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, she notched double-figure kills 21 times and recorded 24 matches with a .300 hitting percentage. Against No. 18 Oregon, she notched her 1,000th career kill to become the 16th player in program history to accomplish the feat.
McCardell earns the honor after becoming the Conference USA Libero of the Year. She was the four-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week. She was second in the league in digs (515) and digs per set (4.72). In C-USA play, she was second in digs per set (4.35) and fourth in total digs (226). McCardell has 10 matches with at least 20 digs, including a career-high 36 against Texas Tech, the third-most in a match in school history.
Players Mentioned
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