RUSTON, La. -- For the first time since 2017 and just the third time since joining Conference USA, the Louisiana Tech volleyball program saw a student-athlete earn All-Conference USA postseason accolades as freshman McKenzie Johnson was named Second Team All-Conference USA and to the All-Freshman Team following a vote by the league's 14 head coaches.

Johnson joins Marta Monne (Second Team All-C-USA, 2017) and Rebecca Redgen (Second Team All-C-USA, 2014) as the only three players to earn All-Conference USA recognition in the program's history.

"We know how challenging it is to earn conference honors playing in an extremely competitive league like C-USA with numerous talented student-athletes, so it is a monumental day for us to be able to add another name to that elite list," head coach Amber McCray said. "For McKenzie to come in and make the impact she has on our team, shatter school records, be one of only two liberos named to a C-USA team this year and to do all of this as a freshman speaks volumes to the type of competitor and high-caliber player she is."

The versatile back row libero played in 85 sets this season, while accumulating a team-high 445 digs and averaging 5.24 digs per set. Her 5.24 digs per set shattered the 5.03 digs per set previous school record held by Lori Hunsucker since 2010. Johnson's mark also ranks 17th nationally and second amongst all freshmen in the NCAA.

Johnson registered double-digit digs in 23 of the 24 matches she played in, including 20 or more digs in 12 different contests. Johnson was the first Lady Techster to be honored as a Player of the Week since Shannon Phillips was named the WAC Player of the Week on September 3, 2007 and was the first Tech player to earn Conference USA honors following her performances at ULM (33 digs), vs. Southern (17 digs), Little Rock (23 digs) and New Orleans (20 digs).

The Rockwall, Texas, native recorded 187 digs and led the league in digs per set (5.50) after posting five matches of 20 or more digs against conference foes. She also ranked third amongst the conference with 16 service aces.

Her freshman campaign was highlighted by arguably her most dominant match in a three-set contest against North Texas on Oct. 2. In the match, Johnson set the new school record for digs in a single match with 36.

Johnson suffered a slight injury to her back that kept her out of two conference matches, but she returned to the court at Southern Miss and collected her 11th match of 20 or more digs to help the Lady Techsters secure their first Conference USA win since 2019 and their first Conference USA road win since 2017.

"Individual awards are always a result of a team effort, so much of this success goes to Coach Hays for the work she puts into our floor defensive corp that kept us in matches all year long and to McKenzie's teammates for the role they have played in her overall performance this season," McCray said. "I believe one of the aspects I'm most excited about is knowing that even with all the success and accolades she has garnered this season, McKenzie is the type of student-athlete who will never settle and will only come back ready to work and hungry for more."
 
 
All-Conference First Team
Sydney Rowen, Charlotte
Giada Bianchi, FIU
Ciara DeBell, Marshall
Rhett Robinson, North Texas
Anota Adekunle, Rice
Carly Graham, Rice
Nicole Lennon, Rice
Fernanda Maida, UAB
Serena Patterson, UTEP
Paige Briggs, WKU
Nadia Dieudonne, WKU
Lauren Matthews, WKU
 
All-Conference Second Team
Emani' Foster, Charlotte
Amani McArther, Charlotte
McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech
Marley Banton, Middle Tennessee
Samira Lawson Body, Middle Tennessee
Sarah Haeussler, North Texas
Alessia Sgherza, Old Dominion
Ellie Bichelmeyer, Rice
Mia Wesley, Southern Miss
Alex Kells, UAB
Alianza Darley, UTEP
Katie Isenbarger, WKU
Kayland Jackson, WKU
 
All-Freshman Team
Giada Bianchi, FIU
Katelyn Robine, Florida Atlantic
McKenzie Johnson, Louisiana Tech
Andrea Owens, North Texas
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Shaylee Shore, Rice
Ema Uskokovic, UTEP
Katie Howard, WKU