University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Hall of Fame
O'Brien, Molly

Molly O'Brien
- Induction:
- 2010
- Class:
- 2004
Molly O’Brien was a middle blocker for the UNI volleyball team from 2000-03.
During her storied career at UNI, the Panthers won four Missouri Valley Conference championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, twice advancing to the Sweet 16.
She was a four-time first-team All-MVC selection – one of only two players in league history to complete that feat. O’Brien was the MVC Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2001-03, and was also honored as all-district by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for those three seasons.
O’Brien received All-MVC Tournament team recognition all four years, taking MVP honors in 2001 and 2003. Three times, she was named to the conference’s scholar-athlete first-team. In 2002, O’Brien took third-team All-America honors, and in 2003 she was a second-team academic All-American. Â
She ranks second all-time in the MVC with 653 career block assists and third all-time with 1,779 career kills. Her career hitting percentage of .315 is the second-best in school history.
O’Brien was elected to the MVC All-Centennial team in 2006 as the top vote-getter and her 10-time MVC Player of the Week honors are the most ever.
She is also a member of the MVC's Hall of Fame.
During her storied career at UNI, the Panthers won four Missouri Valley Conference championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, twice advancing to the Sweet 16.
She was a four-time first-team All-MVC selection – one of only two players in league history to complete that feat. O’Brien was the MVC Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons from 2001-03, and was also honored as all-district by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for those three seasons.
O’Brien received All-MVC Tournament team recognition all four years, taking MVP honors in 2001 and 2003. Three times, she was named to the conference’s scholar-athlete first-team. In 2002, O’Brien took third-team All-America honors, and in 2003 she was a second-team academic All-American. Â
She ranks second all-time in the MVC with 653 career block assists and third all-time with 1,779 career kills. Her career hitting percentage of .315 is the second-best in school history.
O’Brien was elected to the MVC All-Centennial team in 2006 as the top vote-getter and her 10-time MVC Player of the Week honors are the most ever.
She is also a member of the MVC's Hall of Fame.
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