(from Texas Tech Athletics)

Owens highlights four Red Raiders recognized on the 2018 All-Big 12 Volleyball teams.

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech volleyball’s Missy Owens headlines a quartet of Red Raiders named to 2018 All-Big 12 Volleyball Teams as the senior setter was named 2018 Big 12 Co-Setter of the Year and First Team All-Big 12, the league office announced Monday.

Senior Katy Keenan, junior Emily Hill and freshman Brooke Kanas were named All-Big 12 Second Team, while Kanas was one of six freshmen from around the league named to the All-Big 12 Rookie Team.

This is the first time since the formation of the Big 12 that Tech has had four Red Raiders represented on the All-Big 12 teams. The six total all-conference distinctions is also a program record.

A California native and Long Beach State transfer, Owens is the fourth Red Raider to take home an ‘Of the Year’ award by the Big 12 and the first since Phillister Sang was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2005. She is Texas Tech’s first Big 12 Setter of the Year since the league began handing out the award in 2012. Additionally, Owens is the eighth player in Tech history to earn All-Big 12 First Team accolades and the first since Amanda Dowdy did so consecutive years (2010-11).

After earning All-Big 12 Second Team her first year at Texas Tech, Owens received a first-team nod her senior year with a stellar Big 12 season that saw her finish with 10.48 assists per set while increasing the team’s hitting percentage from .179 in 2017 to .204 in 2018. Known for her aggressive style, Owens also tallied 121 kills this season, including 68 in Big 12 play. With eight double-doubles on the year, she also compiled 207 digs and 61 blocks for the year.

Keenan received a nod to an All-Big 12 postseason team for the first time in her career. The middle blocker from Argyle, Texas, has been the face of the turnaround for the Red Raider volleyball program over the last four seasons. She ranked ninth in the Big 12 with a .298 hitting percentage and seventh in blocks per set.

Hill is also receiving her first selection to an All-Big 12 postseason team. The outside hitter from Denton, Texas, ranked 10th in conference play in kills per set while ranking eighth in the league for the season. Her 33 service aces sit at second in the conference while her 3.70 points per set also ranked in the Big 12’s Top 10 for the season. Hill led the Red Raiders offensively with 3.19 kills per set and also led the team in double-doubles with 12.

Kanas certainly made a splash in her first Big 12 season as she was one of four freshmen to receive All-Big 12 First or Second Team honors. The right side/outside hitter from New Braunfels, Texas, led the Red Raiders in kills during Big 12 play and finished second among league freshman in kills per set with 3.37. Twice named Big 12 Rookie of the Week, she had three of Tech’s top offensive performances on the year with 23 kills against Kansas State, 19 against Oklahoma and 18 at West Virginia.

Coming off its third season under head coach Tony Graystone, Texas Tech has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2000-01 and won more Big 12 games in the last two seasons than in the previous four combined.

2018 All-Big 12 Volleyball Accolades

Missy Owens – Big 12 Co-Setter of the Year

Missy Owens – All-Big 12 First Team

Katy Keenan – All-Big 12 Second Team

Emily Hill – All-Big 12 Second Team

Brooke Kanas – All-Big 12 Second Team

Brooke Kanas – All-Big 12 Rookie Team