Odalis Rodriguez Garners NCCAA Central Region Honors

2017 Dec 4

Odalis Rodriguez of El Paso, TX earns NCCAA Honors.

McMurry University volleyball players Justice McGowan (Soph./Waco, Texas/University H.S.) and Odalis Rodriguez (Jr./El Paso, Texas/Chapin H.S.) were both named as National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) All-Americans, as the organization's post-season awards were announced. McGowan was named as a first team NCCAA All-American and Rodriguez was tabbed on the second team.

Additionally, McM sophomore Jordyn Burnell (Sinton, Texas/Sinton H.S.) was named to the all-tournament team for the NCCAA volleyball national championships, which concluded last Saturday at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

For McGowan, the accolades topped an incredible season for the sophomore middle blocker. McGowan was voted the NCCAA Central Region Player of the Year, first team NCCAA All-Central Region, first team All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) and first team ASC All-West Division. McGowan had the second-best attack percentage, .359, ever recorded in a single season in McM history, as well as rolling up the 10th-best season total for total blocks (119).

McGowan appeared in all 34 matches, averaging 2.64 kills and 1.01 blocks per set. McGowan had 16 matches with double-figure kill totals, including a season-high 17 versus Lawrence University (Sept. 2). She also booked a high of eight blocks in the season-opening win over Centenary College.

Rodriguez, a libero, showed here backrow skills by averaging 4.91 digs per set. Rodriguez's 584 digs ranks as the fifth-best season total in McM history. In her career with the War Hawks, Rodriguez ranks third in digs with 1,489, and has the fifth-best career digs-per-set average at 4.35, while ranking fourth in career aces with 128.

Rodriguez also served up a team-leading 36 aces. She also set a McMurry single-match record with 46 digs versus Austin College.

Rodriguez was also a first team NCCAA All-Central Region pick in 2017. Additionally, she was named second team All-ASC West Division.

Burnell had outstanding body of work in the War Hawks four matches in pool play at the NCCAA championships (with the team going 1-3). Burnell played in all 13 sets, averaging 3.23 kills per set. She also handled matters in the back row with 4.23 digs per set.