Symone Abbott Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
11/29/2016 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. – After one of the best attacking seasons ever by a Wildcat, junior outside hitter Symone Abbott was named to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention team, the conference announced Tuesday.
Abbott averaged 4.10 kills per set in 2016, which ranked third in the Big Ten and sixth in program history. She was one of only four players in the conference to average more than four kills a frame.
The junior reached double figures in kills 25 times this year and recorded more than 20 on six different occasions. Her season – and career – high of 26 came in a five-set, near upset of No. 3 Wisconsin on Nov. 12. Abbott attacked from all over the floor to rack up 459 kills, the 11th-best single-season total in Northwestern history.
She showed what the year would hold from the get-go, putting down 22 kills in the team's season-opening win over George Washington, the second-most kills ever by a Northwestern player in a three-set match.
Abbott led the Big Ten in total attacks and attacks per set and ranked 12th nationally in the latter category. She was fourth in total points and points per set in the conference.
Her milestone 1,000th career kill came on Oct. 1 against Iowa at Welsh-Ryan Arena. She finished the year with 1,216 career kills and will enter her senior year ranked 13th on NU's all-time kills list. Stephanie Holthus (2010-13) leads all Wildcats with 1,797.
Abbott also ranks third all-time at Northwestern in career kills per set with 3.63. Holthus leads that category as well with 3.77.
Caleigh Ryan was the recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The senior was a steady presence on the court for Northwestern throughout her career, racking up nearly 1,800 assists and 500 digs.
The AVCA All-Region teams will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and the All-Americans will be unveiled on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
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2016 All-Big Ten Selections
Ali Bastianelli, So., MB, ILL
Jordyn Poulter, So., S, ILL
ABBY COLE, Sr., MB, MICH
Alyssa Garvelink, Jr., MB, MSU
SARAH WILHITE, Sr., OH MINN
SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, So., S, MINN
Hannah Tapp, Sr., MB, MINN
Kelly Hunter, Jr., S, NEB
Amber Rolfzen, Sr., MB, NEB
KADIE ROLFZEN, Sr., OH, NEB
JUSTINE WONG-ORANTES, Sr., L, NEB
TAYLOR SANDBOTHE, Sr., MB, OSU
SIMONE LEE, Jr., OH, PSU
HALEIGH WASHINGTON, Jr., MB, PSU
DANIELLE CUTTINO, Jr., OH, PUR
LAUREN CARLINI, Sr., S, WIS
Haleigh Nelson, Sr., MB WIS
Tionna Williams, So., MB, WIS
Honorable Mention
Brandi Donnelly, Jr., L, ILL
Jazzmine McDonald, Sr., MB, IND
Loxley Keala, Sr., S, IOWA
Gia Milana, Fr., OH, MD
MacKenzi Welsh, Fr., S, MICH
Autumn Bailey, Jr., OH, MSU
Rachel Minarick, Jr., S, MSU
Molly Lohman, Jr., MB, MINN
Mikaela Foecke, So., OH, NEB
Briana Holman, Jr., MB, NEB
Symone Abbott, Jr., OH, NU
Taylor Hughes, So., S, OSU
Faye Adelaja, Sr., MB, PUR
Molly Haggerty, Fr., OH, WIS
All-Freshmen Team
Jacqueline Quade, OH, ILL
GIA MILANA, OH, MD
MacKenzi Welsh, S, MICH
Alexis Hart, OH, MINN
Tori Gorrell, MB, PSU
Kendall White, L, PSU
MOLLY HAGGERTY, OH, WIS
Unanimous selections in CAPS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Wilhite, MINN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justine Wong-Orantes, NEB
SETTER OF THE YEAR
Samantha Seliger-Swenson, MINN
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Molly Haggerty, WIS
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)
John Cook, NEB
Abbott averaged 4.10 kills per set in 2016, which ranked third in the Big Ten and sixth in program history. She was one of only four players in the conference to average more than four kills a frame.
The junior reached double figures in kills 25 times this year and recorded more than 20 on six different occasions. Her season – and career – high of 26 came in a five-set, near upset of No. 3 Wisconsin on Nov. 12. Abbott attacked from all over the floor to rack up 459 kills, the 11th-best single-season total in Northwestern history.
She showed what the year would hold from the get-go, putting down 22 kills in the team's season-opening win over George Washington, the second-most kills ever by a Northwestern player in a three-set match.
Abbott led the Big Ten in total attacks and attacks per set and ranked 12th nationally in the latter category. She was fourth in total points and points per set in the conference.
Her milestone 1,000th career kill came on Oct. 1 against Iowa at Welsh-Ryan Arena. She finished the year with 1,216 career kills and will enter her senior year ranked 13th on NU's all-time kills list. Stephanie Holthus (2010-13) leads all Wildcats with 1,797.
Abbott also ranks third all-time at Northwestern in career kills per set with 3.63. Holthus leads that category as well with 3.77.
Caleigh Ryan was the recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The senior was a steady presence on the court for Northwestern throughout her career, racking up nearly 1,800 assists and 500 digs.
The AVCA All-Region teams will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and the All-Americans will be unveiled on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
---
2016 All-Big Ten Selections
Ali Bastianelli, So., MB, ILL
Jordyn Poulter, So., S, ILL
ABBY COLE, Sr., MB, MICH
Alyssa Garvelink, Jr., MB, MSU
SARAH WILHITE, Sr., OH MINN
SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, So., S, MINN
Hannah Tapp, Sr., MB, MINN
Kelly Hunter, Jr., S, NEB
Amber Rolfzen, Sr., MB, NEB
KADIE ROLFZEN, Sr., OH, NEB
JUSTINE WONG-ORANTES, Sr., L, NEB
TAYLOR SANDBOTHE, Sr., MB, OSU
SIMONE LEE, Jr., OH, PSU
HALEIGH WASHINGTON, Jr., MB, PSU
DANIELLE CUTTINO, Jr., OH, PUR
LAUREN CARLINI, Sr., S, WIS
Haleigh Nelson, Sr., MB WIS
Tionna Williams, So., MB, WIS
Honorable Mention
Brandi Donnelly, Jr., L, ILL
Jazzmine McDonald, Sr., MB, IND
Loxley Keala, Sr., S, IOWA
Gia Milana, Fr., OH, MD
MacKenzi Welsh, Fr., S, MICH
Autumn Bailey, Jr., OH, MSU
Rachel Minarick, Jr., S, MSU
Molly Lohman, Jr., MB, MINN
Mikaela Foecke, So., OH, NEB
Briana Holman, Jr., MB, NEB
Symone Abbott, Jr., OH, NU
Taylor Hughes, So., S, OSU
Faye Adelaja, Sr., MB, PUR
Molly Haggerty, Fr., OH, WIS
All-Freshmen Team
Jacqueline Quade, OH, ILL
GIA MILANA, OH, MD
MacKenzi Welsh, S, MICH
Alexis Hart, OH, MINN
Tori Gorrell, MB, PSU
Kendall White, L, PSU
MOLLY HAGGERTY, OH, WIS
Unanimous selections in CAPS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Wilhite, MINN
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justine Wong-Orantes, NEB
SETTER OF THE YEAR
Samantha Seliger-Swenson, MINN
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Molly Haggerty, WIS
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)
John Cook, NEB
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