Odalis Rodriguez
  • Psychology
  • Class of 2016
  • El Paso, TX

Odalis Rodriguez Garners NCCAA Central Region Honors

2017 Nov 27

Odalis Rodriguez of El Paso, TX is a member of the McMurry War Hawk volleyball team that garnered NCCAA Central Region Honors.

The McMurry University volleyball team - which will begin play in the 2017 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I National Championships later this week - earned numerous honors on the NCCAA All-Central Region Team, it was announced. Heading the awards was sophomore Justice McGowan (Waco, Texas/University H.S.), selected as the "Player of the Year," and McM head coach Cammie Petree (22 seasons), who was tabbed as the NCCAA Central Region "Coach of the Year."

Joining McGowan as a first team NCCAA All-Central Region selection was junior libero Odalis Rodriguez (El Paso, Texas/Chapin H.S.) and sophomore right-side hitter Jordyn Burnell (Sinton, Texas/Sinton H.S). Additionally, junior outside hitter Jasmine Jones (Mansfield, Texas/Legacy H.S.) and sophomore setter Emarie James (Abilene, Texas/Cooper H.S.) were both second team NCCAA All-Central Region picks.

McGowan has been a standout for the War Hawks since joining the team as a freshman in 2016, earning All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) and first team All-ASC West Division honors for the second-consecutive season in 2017. In NCCAA national statistics, she ranks No. 2 hitting percentage and No. 5 in blocks per set. She led the McM team in kills (282), attack percentage (.367), points per set (3.38), and blocks per set (1.06).

McGowan's .367 attack percentage in 2017 ranks as the second-best season in McM history. She had five or more blocks in a match 13 times and double-digit kills 15 times (with a high of 17 vs. Lawrence). McGowan was twice named ASC Offensive "Player of the Week".

In her McM career, McGowan was the 2016 ASC West Division Freshman of the Year. Her career attack average of .332 ranks #1 in school history, currently.

In addition to the first team NCCAA all-region honors, Rodriguez was a second team All-ASC selection this season. In the NCCAA's national statistics leaders, Rodriguez ranks fifth on the digs per set list. She was also named all-tournament at the Austin College Classic, after setting a McMurry school single-match record with 46 digs against host AC. In the ASC statistics, she ranked No. 2 in digs per set (4.99) and No. 9 in service aces (0.31 per set). She also earned one ASC Defensive "Player of the Week" award.

Rodriguez is a three-year starter for McM and was an All-ASC West honorable mention pick in 2016, as well as a 2016 ASC All-Academic Team honoree. She has played in all 92 matches in her career, ranking No. 4 in McM history both with 1,434 digs and 125 aces.

Burnell was also a second team All-ASC West Division selection in having a break-out campaign in 2017. Burnell led the War Hawks in attack attempts (757) and was responsible for an average of 2.93 points per set for her team. Burnell registered double-digit kill totals in 16 matches this season, with a season-high of 17 kills versus Schreiner University. She also had five aces in a game (versus Dallas Christian).

Burnell was also outstanding in the back row with an average of 2.81 digs per set. Burnell had 17 matches with double-figure digs, twice booking 24 digs in a match (versus East Texas Baptist and Howard Payne).

Jones had a .222 attack average in 2017, also gaining All-ASC West second team accolades (and one "Player of the Week" award). Jones led McM in kills per set at 2.68, which ranked ninth in the ASC. She had 12 double-digit kill games, with a season-high of 21 versus Concordia University-Texas.

James averaged a team-leading 5.67 assists per set - 601 total assists - in the War Hawks two-setter rotation. James also contributed 1.96 digs per set to her team and a .206 attack average. She also served up a total of 20 aces in 2017. James had a season best 39 assists versus Belhaven.

The War Hawks won the 2017 NCCAA Central Region championship, with Petree picking up her 400th career victory in the championship match win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University. The NCCAA national championship tournament runs November 30-December 2 in Kissimmee, Florida. McM is the No. 5-seed for the event.