Adekunle, Graham Earn Spots on U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team
3/21/2022 9:50:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Rice one of eight teams with multiple players selected
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rice Owls' volleyball program is one of just eight in the country to have multiple players selected to the 2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team (WCNT) with senior middle blocker Anota Adekunle and senior setter Carly Graham receiving the honors, the organization announced on Monday (3/21).
The team includes 38 of the country's top collegiate women's volleyball players and a coaching staff of seven, including three Olympic medal winners and two others with Olympic coaching experience.
Along with the WNT Open Program and the WNT Spring Training Camp, the WCNT is an opportunity for the U.S. Women's National Team (WNT) coaching staff to observe and evaluate the NCAA athletes with the highest potential. Several former WCNT members are now on the WNT, including 2020 Olympic gold medalists Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Annie Drews, Chiaka Ogbogu, Kelsey Robinson and Jordan Thompson.
The 2022 Collegiate National Team will train June 19-25 at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. Athletes will train among the best collegiate players in the country, watch the WNT training sessions, study the USA systems, meet with Tokyo 2020 Olympians and be observed by the WNT staff.
Among the schools that have multiple players on the team are Minnesota (4), Florida (4), Southern California (3), BYU (2), Kentucky (2), Ohio State (2), Rice (2) and Stanford (2).
Graham earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors, as well as VolleyballMag.com Second Team accolades, after a season in which she was named the Conference USA Setter of the Year. The Spring, Texas native also earned AVCA Southwest Region Team honors after ranking 14th in the NCAA in assists per set (11.10). She helped run one of the most proficient offenses in the nation with the Owls ranking fifth in the NCAA in kills per set (14.38) and ninth in hitting percentage (.287).
Adekunle earned her third consecutive Southwest All-Region Team selection after proving yet again she's one of the most deadly middle blockers offensively in the country. The Humble, Texas native ranked 16th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.406) and led the Owls in total blocks (97) and blocks per set (1.09). The program's all-time leader in career hitting percentage (.407), Adekunle hit .300 or better in 19 matches and hit .426 curing C-USA play.
Rob Browning, head coach of the St. Mary's women's volleyball team, will serve as the Collegiate Team's head coach. Browning has assisted the U.S. Men's National Team at three Olympic Games and has served as a consultant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team over the last four years.
2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team
Anota Adekunle (MB, Rice University)
Erin Anderson (OH, BYU)
Merritt Beason (OH, University of Florida)
Paige Briggs (OH, Western Kentucky University)
Anna Dixon (OH, University of Missouri)
Gabrielle Essix (MB, University of Florida)
Skylar Fields (OPP, University of Southern California)
Morgahn Fingall (OPP, University of Tennessee)
Sarah Franklin (OH, University of Wisconsin)
Grace Frohling (OPP, University of San Diego)
Kate Georgiades (L, University of Houston)
Heather Gneiting (MB, BYU)
Elise Goetzinger (MB, University of Kentucky)
Carly Graham (S, Rice University)
Joi Harvey (MB, United States Air Force Academy)
Kaitlin Hord (MB, University of Nebraska)
Amber Igiede (MB, University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Breanna Kelley (MB, University of Florida)
Kendall Kipp (OPP, Stanford University)
Taylor Landfair (OH, University of Minnesota)
Janice Leao (MB, University of Miami)
Chelsey Lockey (S, Florida Gulf Coast University)
CC McGraw (L, University of Minnesota)
Elizabeth McKissock (L, University of Florida)
Kylie Murr (L, Ohio State University)
Elena Oglivie (L, Stanford University)
Machaela Podraza (S, Ohio State University)
Madelyn Robinson (OH, University of Utah)
Adanna Rollins (OH, TBD)
Reagan Rutherford (OPP, University of Kentucky)
Katy Ryan (OPP, Washington State University)
Shannon Scully (L, University of Southern California)
Melani Shaffmaster (S, University of Minnesota)
Mckenna Slavik (S, Clemson University)
Sabrina Starks (MB, University of Pittsburgh)
Mia Tuaniga (S, University of Southern California)
Jenna Wenaas (OH, University of Minnesota)
Kashauna Williams (OH, Penn State University)
The team includes 38 of the country's top collegiate women's volleyball players and a coaching staff of seven, including three Olympic medal winners and two others with Olympic coaching experience.
Along with the WNT Open Program and the WNT Spring Training Camp, the WCNT is an opportunity for the U.S. Women's National Team (WNT) coaching staff to observe and evaluate the NCAA athletes with the highest potential. Several former WCNT members are now on the WNT, including 2020 Olympic gold medalists Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Annie Drews, Chiaka Ogbogu, Kelsey Robinson and Jordan Thompson.
The 2022 Collegiate National Team will train June 19-25 at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. Athletes will train among the best collegiate players in the country, watch the WNT training sessions, study the USA systems, meet with Tokyo 2020 Olympians and be observed by the WNT staff.
Among the schools that have multiple players on the team are Minnesota (4), Florida (4), Southern California (3), BYU (2), Kentucky (2), Ohio State (2), Rice (2) and Stanford (2).
Graham earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors, as well as VolleyballMag.com Second Team accolades, after a season in which she was named the Conference USA Setter of the Year. The Spring, Texas native also earned AVCA Southwest Region Team honors after ranking 14th in the NCAA in assists per set (11.10). She helped run one of the most proficient offenses in the nation with the Owls ranking fifth in the NCAA in kills per set (14.38) and ninth in hitting percentage (.287).
Adekunle earned her third consecutive Southwest All-Region Team selection after proving yet again she's one of the most deadly middle blockers offensively in the country. The Humble, Texas native ranked 16th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.406) and led the Owls in total blocks (97) and blocks per set (1.09). The program's all-time leader in career hitting percentage (.407), Adekunle hit .300 or better in 19 matches and hit .426 curing C-USA play.
Rob Browning, head coach of the St. Mary's women's volleyball team, will serve as the Collegiate Team's head coach. Browning has assisted the U.S. Men's National Team at three Olympic Games and has served as a consultant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team over the last four years.
2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team
Anota Adekunle (MB, Rice University)
Erin Anderson (OH, BYU)
Merritt Beason (OH, University of Florida)
Paige Briggs (OH, Western Kentucky University)
Anna Dixon (OH, University of Missouri)
Gabrielle Essix (MB, University of Florida)
Skylar Fields (OPP, University of Southern California)
Morgahn Fingall (OPP, University of Tennessee)
Sarah Franklin (OH, University of Wisconsin)
Grace Frohling (OPP, University of San Diego)
Kate Georgiades (L, University of Houston)
Heather Gneiting (MB, BYU)
Elise Goetzinger (MB, University of Kentucky)
Carly Graham (S, Rice University)
Joi Harvey (MB, United States Air Force Academy)
Kaitlin Hord (MB, University of Nebraska)
Amber Igiede (MB, University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Breanna Kelley (MB, University of Florida)
Kendall Kipp (OPP, Stanford University)
Taylor Landfair (OH, University of Minnesota)
Janice Leao (MB, University of Miami)
Chelsey Lockey (S, Florida Gulf Coast University)
CC McGraw (L, University of Minnesota)
Elizabeth McKissock (L, University of Florida)
Kylie Murr (L, Ohio State University)
Elena Oglivie (L, Stanford University)
Machaela Podraza (S, Ohio State University)
Madelyn Robinson (OH, University of Utah)
Adanna Rollins (OH, TBD)
Reagan Rutherford (OPP, University of Kentucky)
Katy Ryan (OPP, Washington State University)
Shannon Scully (L, University of Southern California)
Melani Shaffmaster (S, University of Minnesota)
Mckenna Slavik (S, Clemson University)
Sabrina Starks (MB, University of Pittsburgh)
Mia Tuaniga (S, University of Southern California)
Jenna Wenaas (OH, University of Minnesota)
Kashauna Williams (OH, Penn State University)
Players Mentioned
MB
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