Rice University Athletics
Three Owls Named to C-USA Preseason Team
8/25/2022 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DALLAS – Three members of the Rice volleyball team were named to the Conference USA Preseason Team on Thursday while the Owls were picked to finish second in the preseason poll, as voted on by the league's 11 head coach.
The Owls, who received two first place votes, have three players comprising of the 12-player C-USA Preseason Team. Fifth year senior setter Carly Graham, fifth year senior middle blocker Anota Adekunle, and senior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer were all selected to the team.
Graham is a two-time C-USA Setter of the Year and last season earned VolleyballMag.com Second Team All-American honors and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention accolades. Graham ranked 14th in the NCAA in assists per set (11.10) last season and helped lead a Rice offense that ranked fifth in the country in kills per set (14.38). The C-USA Preseason Team selection is the second of Graham's career.
Adekunle, Rice's all-time leader in hitting percentage (.407), is a three-time member of the AVCA Southwest Team as well as a three-time C-USA First Team honoree. Adekunle ranked 16th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.406) last season and was seventh in C-USA in blocks per set (1.09). The high-flyer hit .300 or better in 19 matches and joined Graham during the summer on the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team. The C-USA Preseason Team selection is the third of Adekunle's career.
Bichelmeyer is coming off her second straight season in which she earned C-USA All-Conference Second Team accolades. The senior earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team last fall and ranked eighth among C-USA players with a .350 hitting clip during league action. Bichelmeyer posted career-highs in hitting percentage (.306) and blocks per set (0.64) and was third on the Owls with 206 kills.
The Owls have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons, advancing to the Round of 32 in two of the last three years. Rice won their second straight C-USA West Division title last season after going 12-0 in conference play for the second time in as many seasons.
Rice begins their 2022 regular season this weekend at the LSU Tiger Classic, starting on Friday at 12 p.m. against crosstown foe Houston.
2022 Conference USA Preseason Team
Emani' Foster, Charlotte, Jr., OH
Amani McArthur, Charlotte, Sr., MB
Marley Banton, Middle Tennessee, Sr., DS
Anota Adekunle, Rice, 5Sr., MB
Ellie Bichelmeyer, Rice, Sr., RS
Carly Graham, Rice, 5Sr., S
Fernanda Maida, UAB, Sr., OH/RS
Alianza Darley, UTEP, Sr., OH/MB
Serena Patterson, UTEP, Gr., OH
Paige Briggs, WKU, Sr., OH
Katie Isenbarger, WKU, 5Sr., MH
Lauren Matthews, WKU, 5Sr., MH
2022 Conference USA Preseason Poll
1. WKU (9)
2. Rice (2)
3. UTEP
4. Charlotte
5. North Texas
6. UAB
7. FIU
8. Middle Tennessee
9. UTSA
10. Florida Atlantic
11. Louisiana Tech
The Owls, who received two first place votes, have three players comprising of the 12-player C-USA Preseason Team. Fifth year senior setter Carly Graham, fifth year senior middle blocker Anota Adekunle, and senior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer were all selected to the team.
Graham is a two-time C-USA Setter of the Year and last season earned VolleyballMag.com Second Team All-American honors and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention accolades. Graham ranked 14th in the NCAA in assists per set (11.10) last season and helped lead a Rice offense that ranked fifth in the country in kills per set (14.38). The C-USA Preseason Team selection is the second of Graham's career.
Adekunle, Rice's all-time leader in hitting percentage (.407), is a three-time member of the AVCA Southwest Team as well as a three-time C-USA First Team honoree. Adekunle ranked 16th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.406) last season and was seventh in C-USA in blocks per set (1.09). The high-flyer hit .300 or better in 19 matches and joined Graham during the summer on the U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team. The C-USA Preseason Team selection is the third of Adekunle's career.
Bichelmeyer is coming off her second straight season in which she earned C-USA All-Conference Second Team accolades. The senior earned a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament Team last fall and ranked eighth among C-USA players with a .350 hitting clip during league action. Bichelmeyer posted career-highs in hitting percentage (.306) and blocks per set (0.64) and was third on the Owls with 206 kills.
The Owls have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons, advancing to the Round of 32 in two of the last three years. Rice won their second straight C-USA West Division title last season after going 12-0 in conference play for the second time in as many seasons.
Rice begins their 2022 regular season this weekend at the LSU Tiger Classic, starting on Friday at 12 p.m. against crosstown foe Houston.
2022 Conference USA Preseason Team
Emani' Foster, Charlotte, Jr., OH
Amani McArthur, Charlotte, Sr., MB
Marley Banton, Middle Tennessee, Sr., DS
Anota Adekunle, Rice, 5Sr., MB
Ellie Bichelmeyer, Rice, Sr., RS
Carly Graham, Rice, 5Sr., S
Fernanda Maida, UAB, Sr., OH/RS
Alianza Darley, UTEP, Sr., OH/MB
Serena Patterson, UTEP, Gr., OH
Paige Briggs, WKU, Sr., OH
Katie Isenbarger, WKU, 5Sr., MH
Lauren Matthews, WKU, 5Sr., MH
2022 Conference USA Preseason Poll
1. WKU (9)
2. Rice (2)
3. UTEP
4. Charlotte
5. North Texas
6. UAB
7. FIU
8. Middle Tennessee
9. UTSA
10. Florida Atlantic
11. Louisiana Tech
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballVB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02