Rylee Steward of Oklahoma City University achieved NAIA volleyball all-America status
Steward, a junior middle blocker studying exercise science from Edmond, Okla., made honorable-mention all-America after setting OCU records for blocks per set in a season and blocks in a match.
In 2022, Steward’s 1.16 blocks a set surpassed the 0.96 blocks per set Whitney Kress provided the Stars in 2007. Steward turned in 2.18 kills and 2.88 points a set as well as a .288 hitting percentage. Steward, who ranked 23rd in the NAIA in average blocks, also took first-team all-NAIA South Central Region and all-Sooner Athletic Conference acclaim. Steward reeled in SAC defender of the week and NAIA defender of the week for Sept. 19-25 and SAC attacker of the week for Oct. 17-23. Steward ranked fourth in program history in blocks in a season (125). Steward posted 13 blocks on Sept. 23 vs. Texas Wesleyan at Abe Lemons Arena to notch the OCU blocks record in a match. Olivia Nutter on Oct. 12, 2021 and Adrienne Tillery on Nov. 10, 2007 owned the previous mark with 10 blocks.
This year, Steward reached double figures in kills 10 times, including four consecutive contests in October. She produced her career high with 16 kills at Central Christian (Kan.) on Oct. 18. Steward recorded two double-doubles with 10 kills and 13 blocks against Texas Wesleyan and 11 kills and 10 blocks at John Brown (Ark.) on Nov. 8 in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals.
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