Texas freshman Jhenna Gabriel, a 2018 Maryknoll alumna, was named the Big 12 rookie of the week on Monday.
The 5-foot-8 libero-turned-setter averaged 10.86 assists per set and finished with 76 total assists in wins over Kansas State and Kansas. She also added 10 digs, three kills, three aces and two blocks for the fifth-ranked Longhorns, who are 17-4 overall and 12-1 in conference play.
Gabriel had seen limited time this season until the last three games and earned her first start in a sweep of the Wildcats, tallying 31 assists and four digs.
The Longhorns earned at least a share of the Big 12 championship with a four-set win over the Jayhawks on Sunday in which Gabriel finished with a career-high 45 assists and six digs.
Texas ends its regular season with matches at Baylor and Texas Tech before the home finale against West Virginia on Nov. 24.
HALLUMS IS GONZAGA’S ALL-TIME DIGS LEADER
Gonzaga senior Tiyana Hallums is now alone at the top.
The 2015 Kamehameha alumna is the Zags’ all-time career digs record holder with 1,332 after her match-high 15 digs in a four-set victory over Saint Mary’s on Sunday in her final home match.
Hallums is having her best season defensively as a senior, averaging 4.39 digs per set. She’s already set a career high for digs in a season with 417 with three matches to go.
A four-year contributor at Gonzaga, Hallums has played in 114 matches and 414 sets. She’s also tallied 226 assists, 51 aces and 72 kills.
Gonzaga (9-17, 6-9 West Coast Conference) closes with road matches at Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount and Portland to end the season on Nov. 20.
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