McCardell Earns Fourth C-USA Defensive Player of the Week Honor
9/26/2022 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Ranks 11th in the NCAA in digs per set
DALLAS – Rice junior libero Nia McCardell was honored by Conference USA for a fourth time this season on Monday, earning the league's Defensive Player of the Week after another stellar weekend.
The Missouri City, Texas native totaled 30 digs across just six sets (5.0 digs per set) as the No. 23 Owls swept both C-USA matches this past weekend to improve to 12-2, 2-0 on the season. McCardell, who ranks 11th in the NCAA this season in digs per set (5.35 digs per set) and 24th in total digs (262), collected 16 digs in Rice's sweep of UTSA followed by 14 more digs against Louisiana Tech on Sunday.
McCardell joins former Owls Lee Ann Cunningham (2018) and Tracey Lam (2010) as the only Rice players to earn four C-USA Defensive Player of the Week awards in a single season.
McCardell has anchored a Rice defense that currently ranks third in the NCAA in digs per set (18.06) and 10th in opponents hitting percentage (.148). The Owls have held their opponents to a hitting percentage of .200 or lower in 12 of 13 matches this season.
The Owls will look to continue their winning streak this weekend when they travel to North Texas on Friday, Sept. 30 for a 6 p.m. first serve. That match will be streamed on ESPN+. Rice then returns home to host Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
The Missouri City, Texas native totaled 30 digs across just six sets (5.0 digs per set) as the No. 23 Owls swept both C-USA matches this past weekend to improve to 12-2, 2-0 on the season. McCardell, who ranks 11th in the NCAA this season in digs per set (5.35 digs per set) and 24th in total digs (262), collected 16 digs in Rice's sweep of UTSA followed by 14 more digs against Louisiana Tech on Sunday.
McCardell joins former Owls Lee Ann Cunningham (2018) and Tracey Lam (2010) as the only Rice players to earn four C-USA Defensive Player of the Week awards in a single season.
McCardell has anchored a Rice defense that currently ranks third in the NCAA in digs per set (18.06) and 10th in opponents hitting percentage (.148). The Owls have held their opponents to a hitting percentage of .200 or lower in 12 of 13 matches this season.
The Owls will look to continue their winning streak this weekend when they travel to North Texas on Friday, Sept. 30 for a 6 p.m. first serve. That match will be streamed on ESPN+. Rice then returns home to host Florida Atlantic on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. from Tudor Fieldhouse.
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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