2022 AVCA Division I Regional Awards

LEXINGTON - Conference USA has seven players, representing three schools, on the 2022 American Volleyball Coaches Association DI All-Region List, the organization announced Tuesday.

In the South Region, WKU was represented by Lauren Matthews, Paige Briggs, Callie Bauerand Katie Isenbargeras well as Charlotte’s Emani’ Foster.In the Southwest Region, conference champion Rice was represented by Anota Adekunleand Carly Graham. 

WKU’s fifth-year senior Matthews earned South Region Player of the Year honors for the third time in her career (2019, 2021, 2022), making her the only Hilltopper to ever repeat as an AVCA Region Player of the Year. Matthews also took home the 2022 Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year award for the third time in her career and earned C-USA First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament honors for the fourth straight season. She finished the season 14th in the nation in hitting percentage at .406, while collecting 467 kills, 17 blocks and 533.5 points. 

Joining Matthews as a four-time All-Region honoree, Briggs is third in the league in kills per set (3.77) and third in points per set (4.47).Briggs was named First Team All-Conference and All-Academic for the third consecutive season. She tallied 416 kills on a .324 hitting clip, with 297 digs and 58 blocks. Bauer finished the season setting her team to the second highest hitting percentage in the nation at .318 on the season. She was the conference leader in assists per set with 11.15, totaling 1171 in her first season as the Hilltoppers starting setter. She ranks 12th nationally in overall assists per set and 24th nationally in total assists. Bauer completed the only triple-double in Conference USA this season (10 kills, 10 digs, 39 assists) against Northern Kentucky. She was named C-USA Freshman of the Year, C-USA First Team All-Conference and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman and All-Academic Teams.

Isenbarger earned her second Honorable Mention All-Region honor after hitting .363 on the season, while picking up 1.23 blocks a set, which ranks 48th in the nation and first in college volleyball for middle hitters. She was named C-USA Second Team All-Conference for the third consecutive season, All-Academic and was named All-Region in 2020.

Charlotte’s Foster earned her second All-Region honor (2020-21), adding to her accolades, which include C-USA First Team All-Conference and All-Academic Team. This season she appeared in all 27 matches, leading the conference in kills (502), kills per set (4.97), points (590) and points per set (5.49). 

This marks the third consecutive season Carly Graham and Anota Adekunle were selected to the AVCA Southwest All-Region team. Graham earns the honor for the third time. She was the recipient of her third straight Conference USA Setter of the Year Award, becoming just the second player in C-USA history to earn the award three straight years.She led the league in assists (1,246) and was second in assists per game (10.56). Graham also led the Owls with 11 double-doubles while averaging 2.25 digs per set and hitting .297. Adekunle joins Nicole Lennon as the only Owls to be named Southwest All-Region four times. She was named First Team All-Conference for the fourth straight year and All-Conference for the fifth straight time. She ranks 10th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.413) and is Rice's all-time leader (.408). Adekunle also led the Owls in kills (363), kills per set (3.16), blocks (95) and points (430.5).