Rice University student-athletes and coaches gathered on April 27 to celebrate achievements from the 2025-26 athletic season during the annual Night of the Owl event. The ceremony, presented by SAAC and the “R” Association, recognized senior men’s track and field athlete Cal Abdulky with the Bob Quin Award and senior volleyball player Lademi Ogunlana with the Joyce Pounds Hardy Award.
The awards highlight individual excellence in athletics as well as academic achievement. Abdulky became the 25th men’s track and field athlete in program history to earn the Bob Quin Award after a career that included three American Conference championships in hammer and weight throw events, seven All-Conference honors, recognition as American Conference Performer of the Meet for this indoor season, three NCAA West Prelim qualifications, and top-three all-time Rice rankings in both weight throw (second) and hammer throw (third). He is also a four-time conference academic honoree, three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team member, Rice Honor Athlete, and will graduate with an MBA in May.
Ogunlana was named Joyce Pounds Hardy Award winner as only the tenth women’s volleyball player at Rice to receive this honor. Her accolades include multiple American Conference recognitions such as Preseason All-Conference selection, Second Team All-Conference selection, American Offensive Player of the Week award, AVCA All-Region honorable mention for 2024, two Sammy Spirit Awards from her team, Academic All-District selection by CSC for 2025, inclusion on The American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team for 2023-24 season as well as receiving a Conference USA Academic Medal.
Other notable honorees included Riley Kuhlman (men’s track) and Neta Ussishkin (swimming/diving), who received Scholar Athlete of the Year awards; Daniel Zou (men’s golf) and Lily Archibald (swimming/diving), named Freshmen of the Year; Naija Bruckner (soccer) and Darby Harris (volleyball), recipients of R Association scholarships; Andrew Murray (men’s track), awarded for courage after injury; Efe Ustundag (men’s tennis), Head Coach of the Year; Andrea Blackett (women’s track & field), Assistant Coach of the Year; Jim Bevan among others receiving Excellence in Rice Athletics Awards.
The SAAC Cup went to football for team engagement across sports while women’s tennis earned Best Moment Award following their conference championship title win over Wichita State. The event underscored not just athletic success but also community involvement within Rice Athletics.
