Maryknoll School alumna Jhenna Gabriel earns Big 12 volleyball honor

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 76 total in wins over Kansas State and Kansas. She 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 past 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 in which Gabriel finished with a career-high 45 assists and six digs.

Texas has three more regular-season matches, ending with a 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 (moved to the Wooden Center in Westwood), Loyola Marymount and Portland to end the season on Nov. 20.