by COLLEGE PARK, MD – Senior middle blocker Rainelle Jones (Cree) was named to the First Team All-Big Ten by the conference, they announced Wednesday morning.
Jones earns her spot on the First Team after a record-breaking year that saw her lead the NCAA in blocks with 1.73 per set. She’s the first Terp in program history to lead the NCAA in any statistical category. She had three double-digit block matches including 11 against the eventual Big Ten Champions, and then-No.2, Wisconsin Badgers as the Terps notched their first Top-Five victory in program history. Four of those 11 were solo stuffs.
By the end of the season, the Oxon Hill, Maryland, native had moved into third all-time in program history in total blocks. She sat first in the 25-point rally scoring era. Her 2021 season totals place her top-ten in Maryland record books for block assists and total blocks. Jones’ efforts were also recognized during the season with a pair of Big Ten Defenive Player of the Week recognitions.
This is the fourth consecutive season that Maryland has had a First Team All-Big Ten selection (Katie Myers – 2019, Erika Pritchard – 2018/2020-21, Jones – 2021.) Prior to 2018 the Terps had never received more than an Honorable Mention.
