UC Santa Barbara
2017 Big West All-Freshman Team
2017: Omwanghe burst onto the scene as a true freshman, locking down a starting middle blocker spot while being named to the 2017 Big West All-Freshman Team ... Appeared in 27 matches and started 24, including the final 22 of the season ... Finished the campaign with 142 kills (1.60 per set) on .237 hitting, 83 blocks (0.93), five solo blocks, 16 digs, and one service ace ... Led the team in blocking (among those with at least 10 matches played), ranked second in hitting percentage, and ranked third in kills per set ... Ranked fourth overall in the Big West in blocking but first among league freshmen ... Was a Big West Freshman of the Week nominee a team-high four times. winning the award on Sept. 25 (1.83 blocks per set, .556 hitting percentage in wins over Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside) and Oct. 23 (2.1 kills per set, .341 hitting percentage, 1.18 blocks per set in a three-match week) ... Made her NCAA debut in the team's season opener against Illinois State, knocking down three kills on nine swings ... Hit over .300 in nine matches ... Best all-around performance of the season came on Sept. 16 against Cleveland State in the Pitt Panther Challenge, as she had a season-high 13 kills on .571 hitting with six blocks ... Had a season-best eight blocks against Arkansas in a five-set loss on Sept. 9 in the UCSB Thunderdome Classic ... Upper her game in conference play, averaging 1.79 kills per set on .255 hitting with 1.06 blocks per set ... Hit .321 over 12 matches in September including a stretch in which she hit over .400 in four straight and over .500 in three straight contests.
High School: Earned three varsity letters at Claremont High School under head coach Dan Reighter ... Played middle blocker for the Wolfpack ... In her varsity career, totaled 161 kills, 101 solo blocks, and 142 total blocks (over 2.1 per match) ... As a senior, put down 77 kills on .313 hitting en route to Second Team All-Palomares League and All-Academic honors ... Captained the Wolfpack to a league title that season ... Had seven blocks against rival Glendora High School to clinch the league title ... Claremont made it to the CIF Semifinals ... As a junior, hit .227 and was named Second Team All-League and All-Academic ... Claremont advanced to the CIF Quarterfinals that season ... Chipped in 54 kills as a sophomore and was named All-Palomares League Honorable Mention.
Club: Spent two seasons on the Forza North Vollleyball 18-1s ... Played under coach Aaron Flores ... Team was ranked No. 11 in the SCVA (Southern California Volleyball Association) during her tenure.
Personal: Nicole Abieyuwa Omwanghe was born on Mar. 28, 1999 to parents Austin and Justina in Fontana, Calif. ... Calls Claremont, Calif. her hometown ... Has three older siblings, Kimberli, Austin Jr., and Ashley ... Plans on majoring in biology ... Aspires to work in the medical field ... Started playing volleyball at age 11 ... Roots for the Golden State Warriors ... Lists 10 Things I Hate About You as her favorite movie ... Enjoys watching The Walking Dead and Bob's Burgers ... Her top book is The Four Agreements ... Cites Maya Angelou as her favorite writer ... Listens to Frank Ocean and Grouplove ... Her favorite pre-UCSB sporting moment was beating Glendora High School for the league championship in 2016 ... In her free time, enjoys photography, yoga, and playing beach volleyball ... Serena Williams is her favorite athlete ... Bananas are her go-to post-practice snack .. In high school, volunteered with Priceless Pets (a shelter organization) and worked as a nurses' assistant ... Her older sister, Ashley, will be graduating UCSB in 2017 ... The location is her favorite aspect of UCSB.
