Volleyball Places Three on AAC All-Conference Teams
11/28/2023 11:05:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HOUSTON, Texas — Rice volleyball had three players receive all-conference honors, it was announced by the AAC on Tuesday. Graduate senior right side hitter Emilia Weske was a unanimous selection to the first team, while senior libero Nia McCardell and senior outside hitter Danyle Courtley were each named to the second team.
Weske was one of five players in the conference to be unanimously selected to the all-conference first team. Weske finished the season ranked third in the conference in total kills (365), fourth in attacks per set (9.91), fifth in points per set (4.13) and sixth in total points (429.5). She led the Owls with 26 service aces and added 232 digs and 65.0 blocks. Weske recorded nine double-doubles on the season and recorded a career-high 28 kills at North Texas on Nov. 10.
McCardell ended the year as the conference's leader in total digs (560) and digs per set (4.96), ranking 24th and 25th in the nation in those same categories, respectively. McCardell surpassed 1,500 career digs this season, becoming only the fifth player in program history to do so, and recorded double-digit digs in 28 of 29 matches this season. The product of Missouri City, Texas, also topped 30 digs in five matches and recorded her first career double-double featuring 18 digs and 10 assists at Charlotte on Oct. 8.
Courtley led the Owls in both total points and kills with 449.0 and 414, respectively. The native of Katy, Texas, ranked third in the AAC in total kills and ranked fourth in total points, kills per set (3.66) and total attacks (1,091). Courtley posted double-digit kills in 24 matches this season, including in 18 of 19 conference matches. Courtley also posted the second and third double-doubles of her career this season, achieving the feat against both SMU and South Florida.
With the three all-conference selections, head coach Genny Volpe has now coached players to 77 all-conference selections during her 20-year career.
