HOUSTON, TEXAS (Janaury 27, 2009) Rice volleyball held its annual awards banquet Tuesday evening and celebrated the program's second-ever NCAA appearance.
Senior Karyn Morgan earned the most improved award and most valuable player award as voted upon by her teammates. The team also selected freshman Ashleigh McCord as the team's newcomer award winner, and senior Jessica Holderness was honored with the team's commitment award. Junior Jessie Boulavsky earned the scholar-athlete award as sporting the highest grade point average on the team at 4.052 on a 4.00 scale.
Morgan, a senior outside hitter from Bellaire, Texas, led the Owls in 2008 in total kills (381) and kills per set (3.50). She also was second on the team in digs with 331. Morgan concluded her career at Rice with 1,372 kills which ranks fifth all-time at Rice and she also had 1,242 digs which is fourth-best in school history. She is only the sixth Owl ever to have over 1,000+ kills and 1,000+ digs. Morgan was also selected to the 2008 All-Conference USA first team.
Holderness was a repeating All-C-USA second team honoree. The 5-11 outside hitter ranks 13th and 15th in C-USA in kills (2.92) and digs (3.17) per set, respectively. She also owned 11 double-doubles on the season.
Owning a C-USA freshman best in hitting accuracy (.302) and kills (3.10) per set, McCord was the sixth Owl honored with an All-Freshman team selection. McCord also accounted for 3.32 points per set.
In 2008, the Owls, under head coach Genny Volpe, racked up 23 victories against only 7 losses while earning only their second-ever NCAA appearance. Rice returns four starters as well as Tracey Lam, the team's libéro, for the 2009 season.
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