MVP Hickman Joins Ballenger and Cole on All-Tourney Team

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Junior middle blocker Naomi Hickman was named Most Valuable Player of the UNI Tournament and joined on the All-Tournament team by Creighton teammates Megan Ballenger and Madelyn Cole.

The trio were key cogs in Creighton's 3-0 weekend that included four-set wins over No. 12 Kentucky and No. 15 USC, as well as a 3-2 win against tournament host and defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Northern Iowa.

Hickman and Ballenger shared team-high honors with 38 kills in 13 sets (2.92 kps.) last weekend. Hickman hit .465 while Ballenger hit .437 as the Bluejay middle blocking duo dominated all weekend long. Cole quarterbacked a Bluejay offense that hit .266 on the weekend, dishing 153 assists in 13 sets (11.77 aps.). Cole also hit .455 in 22 swings and contributed 39 digs (3.00 dps.), 11 blocks (0.85 bps.) and two aces (0.15 saps.).

Hickman entered the week with a career-high of nine kills, only to reach double-figures in all three matches in Cedar Falls. She posted 17 kills on .640 hitting in the Bluejay victory over Kentucky, adding three blocks and two digs. Hickman then added 10 kills and four blocks in CU's 3-2 triumph over Northern Iowa on Friday night. She capped her weekend with 11 kills in 15 errorless swings, hitting a career-best .733, in the Bluejays' first win over USC in program history.

Ballenger had 12 kills on .579 hitting in the victory over Kentucky, adding five blocks. She then finished with 10 kills and a pair of blocks while hitting at a .348 clip later that night vs. UNI. Ballenger then tied her career-high with 16 kills in the title game victory over USC, hitting .414 in the process.

Cole had double-doubles in all three matches. She had 53 assists, 14 digs and five blocks as CU hit .319 in the win vs. Kentucky. Cole added 48 assists and tied a season-high with 15 digs in a five-set win vs. UNI. She closed the weekend with 52 assists, 10 digs, five kills and four blocks as the Jays hit .355 in the win over USC.

Joining Hickman, Ballenger and Cole on the All-Tournament Team were Kentucky's Gabby Curry and Leah Edmond, USC's Emilia Weske and UNI's Karlie Taylor.

Creighton returns to action on Friday at 6 p.m. when it hosts Nebraska-Omaha in the Bluejay Invitational.

Final results:

First Place: Creighton (3-0)

Second Place: Kentucky (2-1)

Third Place: USC (1-2)

Fourth Place: UNI (0-3)

All-Tournament Team

MVP: Naomi Hickman, Creighton

Megan Ballenger, Creighton

Madelyn Cole, Creighton

Gabby Curry, Kentucky

Leah Edmond, Kentucky

Emilia Weske, USC

Karlie Taylor, UNI

MVP Hickman Joins Ballenger and Cole on All-Tourney Team

Players Mentioned

Megan Ballenger

Madelyn Cole

Naomi Hickman

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