Final Four Berth on the Line this Weekend for Huskers

Lincoln -- Nebraska, which defeated Princeton and South Carolina in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, earned one of the 16 automatic bids after claiming their fourth Big 12 Conference title in the last five years. The Huskers enter the tournament as the only undefeated team in the nation and could become just the second team in NCAA history to end the season with a perfect record. Nebraska, ranked No. 1 in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches poll for 13 straight weeks, has swept 23 of its 30 opponents this season, including 17 of its 20 league foes.

Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament
Nebraska has appeared in 19 of 20 NCAA Tournaments, missing just the first one in 1981. Only California-Santa Barbara, Pacific, Penn State and Stanford have played in every tournament.

NU is making its 17th appearance in the NCAA regional semifinals. The Huskers have hosted regional action nine times in school history, advancing to the NCAA Final Four six of those times.

The Huskers have compiled a 43-17 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament. NU ranks third in wins and fifth in winning percentage (.717). Nebraska is one of just eight schools that has won a national title and is one of just three schools east of California (the others are Penn State and Texas) to have won a championship. In the last five seasons, the Huskers have produced an 20-4 postseason record.

NU lists seven players on its roster with NCAA Tournament experience. Senior Angie Oxley has the most postseason experience of any Husker. The senior outside hitter has played in 14 matches (41 games).

A look at Central Region No. 2 seed Arizona
Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year, junior setter Dana Burkholder, entered the 2000 season ranked 12th in NCAA history in career assists per game. The Wildcats have averaged a .323 efficiency under Burkholder this season. Burkholder has produced 13.45 assists per game, 1.71 kills per game, and 2.77 digs per game. Six Wildcats are averaging more than 2.00 kills per game under Burkholder, including Allison Napier and Marisa Dalee. Napier, a senior outside hitter, leads Arizona with 3.97 kills per game, while Dalee, a senior middle blocker, averages 3.48 kills per game on .432 hitting.

NU leads its all-time series with Arizona, 3-1, sweeping the Wildcats in their last meeting Sept. 11, 1999.

A look at Central Region No. 3 seed BYU
The Cougars are making their 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their 19th overall, missing only the 1989 tournament in the 20 years since the NCAA has staged the championship. BYU is ninth all time in NCAA Tournament wins with a 24-18 overall record in the postseason event. The Cougars, now 26-6 on the year, defeated Hofstra and No. 21 Utah State to advance to the Central Region semifinals. BYU has won 13 straight matches and ended the regular season with victories in three straight road matches over ranked teams, including Mountain West Conference Tournament wins over then-No. 4 Colorado State and Utah.

The Cougars are led by junior middle blocker Nina Puikkonen, a two-time AVCA Player of the Week in 2000. Puikkonen, a second-team All-American in 1999, is averaging 1.89 blocks per game and 4.17 kills per game on a .364 hitting efficiency, and she has 38 service aces on the year. Sister Karina Puikkonen has produced 12.74 assists per game, 0.98 blocks per game and 1.23 kills per game. Sophmore outside hitter Sunny Tonga adds 3.18 kills per game.

Nebraska leads its all-time series with BYU 5-2 and has not faced the Cougars since 1996.

A look at Central Region No. 4 seed Ohio State
Ohio State is making its eighth NCAA regional semifinal appearance in the past 12 years and their first in three years. OSU is no stranger to the NU Coliseum. The Buckeyes have played in Lincoln three times in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in the Central Regional Semifinal in 1995, Ohio State lost in the semifinals to UCLA 0-3 (6-15, 6-15, 9-15). OSU defeated Notre Dame in five games in the second round to advance to Lincoln this season. The Buckeyes (26-6) closed the regular season with a four-match winning streak, including a 3-2 win over ninth-ranked Minnesota.

The Buckeyes are led by a trio of sophomores. Setter Katie Virtue averages 14.44 assists per-game average is the best OSU mark in history. Virtue was one of 13 players named to the All-Big Ten team, and sophomore middle blockers Sue Calligaris and Suzie Stiling each earned honorable-mention honors. Nine of the 11 players on OSU's roster are underclassmen.

Nebraska leads its all-time series with Ohio State, 5-3, sweeping the Buckeyes in the squads' three previous meetings.

Nebraska avoids upset bid, advances to third round
Lincoln - The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the 17th time in school history Dec. 2 when it defeated South Carolina in a nail biter, claiming a 15-11, 19-15, 13-15, 15-12, 15-13 victory over the Gamecocks before 4,002 fans at the NU Coliseum.

Four Huskers posted double-figure kill totals, led by sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist's 20. Senior right side hitter Kim Behrends posted a career-best 18 kills and sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski totaled 15 on a .306 hitting percentage in her first significant action since undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy Nov. 21. Junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp added 14 kills.

Defensively, senior right side hitter Angie Oxley recorded 21 digs, while freshman Anna Schrad had a career-high 17.

The Huskers (30-0) will face Ohio State, which beat Notre Dame in five games Saturday, in the semifinals of the Central Region Dec. 8 at the Coliseum. Nebraska is 43-17 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

"I never had a doubt in my mind that we wouldn't win," NU Coach John Cook said. "South Carolina, they played great. They did some things great and they deserve a lot of credit. We didn't play well tonight, and we were out of sync a lot, but the crowd was great and really helped keep in it."

After tying the match at one game each, the Gamecocks (22-7) stunned the Huskers (30-0) in the third when they took an 11-1 lead before eventually pulling out the victory and going up 2-1 in the match. Nebraska has been pushed to five games just three times this season, with the other five-game matches coming against UCLA and Kansas State. The Huskers had dropped just eight games all season coming into the match.

But Nebraska found a way to win in the critical fourth game. Nebraska trailed 8-12 in the fourth when Schrad stepped to the service line for a 6-0 run that included three key kills from Kropp and a thunderous shot by Behrends that gave the Huskers a 14-12 lead. A USC block of Kropp by Milica Perovic forced a side out, but Oxley returned the favor with her ninth kill of the match to give NU a second shot at game point. Nebraska secured the 15-12, fourth-game win with Kropp serving on an attack error by the Gamecocks' Nia Mackie.

The Huskers led by as many as six in the rally-scoring fifth game before South Carolina cut their advantage to 14-13 with a kill from sophomore middle blocker Berna Dwyer. But the Huskers wrapped up the match on the ensuing possession when the Gamecocks committed an attack error.

"I was confident and believed in my teammates," Behrends said. "I knew that we were going to pull it out. I believe in us."

South Carolina took an early 3-0 lead in the first game behind kills from Sefferovich and Berna Dwyer, who led USC with 19 kills. The Huskers and Gamecocks were tied four times before sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero and Holmquist blocked Dwyer for the fifth and final tie of game at 11 all. Oxley served two aces to give NU a 13-11 lead and was behind the service line for Nebraska's final two points of the game. A block of sophomore middle blocker Megan Hosp by Behrends, who led Nebraska with six kills on a .455 hitting percentage in game one, sealed the 15-11 win for the Huskers.

The Gamecocks again held the early advantage in the second, jumping to a 5-2 lead. Nebraska tied the score at seven with a kill by Holmquist, and then took a 9-7 lead after a block and a kill by Behrends. After 11 possession changes, South Carolina scored seven straight to force game point. Cepero thwarted USC's first attempt for a win with a kill before the Gamecocks captured the 15-9 victory on a block by Sam Alban. The Huskers hit .164 in the second after posting a .351 efficiency in the first, while South Carolina hit .372 in the second game, led by Milica Perovic's six kills and .857 hitting percentage.

South Carolina stunned the Huskers by racing to an 11-1. Nebraska slowly battled back, receiving a spark off the bench when Cook inserted Pilakowski who delivered five kills as NU out-scored the Gamecocks 7-2. South Carolina took a 14-9 lead on a setter dump by Hosp. NU regained control on a kill by Oxley, who served four straight to bring the Huskers within one. But the Gamecocks took possession when NU was called four hits, and Sefferovich sealed the 15-13 win for USC with her 12th kill of the match.

Cepero Big 12 Player of the Year
Dallas - Nebraska sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero earned Big 12 Conference Player-of-the-Year honors in a vote by the league's head coaches, the conference office announced Nov. 26. Cepero, a 6-2 native of Dorado, Puerto Rico, earned the honor after guiding the Huskers to a No. 1 ranking, a 28-0 record and a .323 hitting percentage (second in the nation) in her first season at the position.

Cepero is the only setter ranked in the top 10 of three different Big 12 categories. She is 10th in hitting percentage, ninth in assists per game and third in blocks per game. Cepero, who was also the first setter in the league to earn Big 12 Volleyball Athlete-of-the-Week honors, is averaging 11.69 assists, 2.17 digs, 1.51 blocks and 1.83 kills per game.

Four other Huskers joined Cepero on the Big 12 honor list. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski, sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist and junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp were named to the all-conference squad, while senior right side hitter Angie Oxley earned honorable-mention recognition.

Pilakowski, a native of Columbus, Neb., has been an offensive force for Nebraska in 2000, leading the Huskers with 4.22 kills per game on a .351 hitting efficiency, the highest percentage by an outside hitter in the Big 12. Holmquist, the nation's best blocker at 2.02 blocks per game, will most likely shatter the Big 12 Conference record of 1.79 per game. The Houston, Texas, native could also break the NU single-season school record of 1.92 set by Stephanie Thater in 1992. Holmquist has already broken a Big 12 Conference record with 16 total blocks at Texas Oct.22. Holmquist is also on pace to break Nebraska single-season records for block assists and total blocks.

Kropp, a product of Grand Island, Neb., ranks fourth nationally in blocks per game. She is second to Holmquist in the Big 12 Conference in that category. In league matches, Kropp averaged 1.81 blocks per game. She has led Nebraska in blocks 12 times this season. Oxley, a native of Ogallala, Neb., leads Nebraska with 28 service aces and 2.81 digs per game.

Other notable Big 12 honorees were Missouri head coach Susan Kreklow, the 2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Texas A&M middle blocker Tara Pulaski, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Baylor outside hitter Stevie Nicholas, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and Texas Tech's Heather Hughes-Justice, the Big 12 Defensive Specialist of the Year.

Nebraska continues dominance in conference play
The 2000 Big 12 Conference championships is the latest in a long line of league titles for Nebraska. The Huskers have won 23 Big Eight/Big 12 championships in 25 seasons. Twenty-two of the titles came under former head coach Terry Pettit, who retired after the 1999 season and now serves as an NU athletic department administrator. Nebraska has won four of the five Big 12 championships -- all but the 1997 title. The Huskers own a 375-32-1 all-time record against Big 12 schools, an amazing .919 winning percentage.

Huskers nation's top blocking team
In the final NCAA regular season statistics, Nebraska ranked No. 1 in the nation in team blocking with 4.20 per game. Sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist leads the nation in blocks per game, junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp was tied for fifth nationally, and sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero was 19th in that category.

The Huskers also ended the regular season as the Big 12 blocking champion, averaging 4.36 blocks per game in league matches. NU will likely break its own conference record of 3.83 blocks per game in a single season set in 1998. Holmquist ranks first in league matches (2.19), Kropp is second (1.73) and Cepero ranks third (1.68 bpg). Nebraska, which has led the conference in blocking three of the past four years, is out-blocking its opponents 386.5 to 126.0 this season.

NU breaks conference blocking records
Nebraska staged its own block party at Texas Oct. 22, breaking two NU school records and two Big 12 Conference records for block assists.

The Huskers set a NU record for block assists in a single match with 46, smashing the nine-year-old record of 41 set in 1991 against UCLA. The total also broke the Big 12 record for blocks in a four-game match. The previous mark of 42 was set by both Texas A&M and Kansas State in 1998.

With 16 total blocks against Texas, sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist broke the Big 12 Conference and the Nebraska record for total blocks in a single match. The previous record of 15 was held by former NU middle blocker Tonia Tauke, who accomplished the feat against Michigan State in 1996.

For the week of Oct. 16, the Huskers averaged an amazing 6.00 blocks per game in wins over Kansas State and Texas. Holmquist averaged 3.29 blocks per game for the week

Nebraska ranks second nationally in hitting percentage
The Huskers ranked second nationally in the final NCAA regular season statistics released Nov. 26 in hitting percentage statistics with a .323 efficiency. Nebraska ended the regular season ranked first in the Big 12 Conference with a .320 efficiency. the Huskers are the only Big 12 team that boasts a hitting efficiency higher than .300.

As a team, the Huskers have hit .300 or higher in 20 of their 30 matches under the direction of first-year setter Greichaly Cepero. Their most impressive statistical offensive showing came against Creighton Oct. 3 when NU posted a .567 hitting percentage, their best mark in at least seven years. Nebraska has hit .485 or higher three times and .433 or higher five times already this season. Nebraska hit .400 or higher only two times in 1999.

For the season, seven of the 10 NU players who have attempted a kill are hitting .300 or higher, and the Huskers dominated the Big 12 statistics in conference matches, as four players ended the season ranked among the top 10 in hitting percentage. Sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist ranked first with a .450 hitting percentage. Junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp was second (.361), sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski was ninth (.333), and Cepero finished the Big 12 season ranked 10th (.331) in league matches.

Nebraska No. 1 for 13th straight week
For the 13th straight week, Nebraska was voted No. 1 in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. The 30-0 Huskers lost three first-place votes to Southern California after a five-game win over South Carolina in the NCAA Second Round. NU received all 60 first-place votes last week and 1,500 points after a 3-0 win over Texas Tech and a 3-2 victory against Kansas State.

Southern California remained in second place, and Hawaii was third, and Wisconsin and Arizona rounded out the top five.

Six of the teams on NU's 2000 schedule are ranked, including Big 12 foes Kansas State (No. 23), Texas A&M (No. 24) and Missouri (No. 24).

The Huskers were voted the nation's No. 1 team for the first time in 2000 in the Sept. 1 poll. The poll marked the first time since 1995 that NU has held the top spot.

The Huskers moved into the No. 1 ranking on the strength of their successful weekend in South Bend. NU first posted sweeps of then-No. 22 Notre Dame Sept. 8 and then-No. 16 Michigan State Sept. 9. In the adidas Invitational title match Sept. 10, Nebraska knocked off previously third-ranked UCLA, 12-15, 15-11, 13-15, 15-1, 15-10.

Nebraska has produced an overall 63-2 mark when holding the nation's top spot. The Huskers are 22-0 in 2000, and were 27-0 at No. 1 in 1995, 9-1 in 1994 and 5-1 in 1990. Nebraska's only losses while ranked No. 1 were to Pacific in 1990 and Penn State in 1994.

Nebraska breaks NCAA attendance record
Lincoln, Neb. -- An NCAA regular-season record-breaking crowd of 12,504 fans cheered the top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team to a 15-12, 15-3, 15-13 win over Colorado Nov. 4 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The attendance mark smashed the previous record of 11,529, which was set Oct. 22, 1995, at the Nebraska-Colorado match at the Devaney Center.

The record-breaking crowd was the second-largest overall in NCAA history, trailing only the 13,194 fans who attended the 1998 NCAA championship match between Long Beach State and Penn State in Madison, Wis.

Nebraska matches at the Devaney Center have attracted the top three regular-season crowds in NCAA history. The Huskers' match against UCLA Sept. 14, 1991 drew the third-largest crowd, 11,032 fans.

Nebraska Coach John Cook said he wanted to play at the Devaney Center in hopes of creating an atmosphere similar to the NCAA Final Four. The Huskers normally play at the 4,200-seat NU Coliseum.

Husker fans keep NU Coliseum packed
Nebraska's fans continue to fuel their team's success at the NU Coliseum. With an NCAA regular-season record-breaking crowd of 12,504 Nov. 4 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, the Huskers' boosted their average attendance of 3,576 to 4,277 fans per contest. Hawaii ranks first, Wisconsin ranked third, Minnesota was fourth and Illinois State was fifth. The 1999 season marked the best year ever for Husker attendance, as Nebraska drew 71,577 fans, breaking the 1998 record of 69,594.

Seven Huskers earn Academic All-Big 12 honors
Dallas -- Seven Nebraska volleyball players were among the 59 student-athletes who were named to the 2000 Academic All-Big 12 Conference team, the league office announced Nov. 26. Seniors Jill McWilliams and Angie Oxley and sophomores Greichaly Cepero, Amber Holmquist, Laura Pilakowski and Lindsay Wischmeier earned first-team recognition, while junior Jenny Kropp was named to the second team. McWilliams is a four-time member of the academic all-Big 12 first-team, while Oxley has earned the honor three times. Cepero, Holmquist, Kropp, Pilakowski and Wischmeier were all honored for the first team.

The Husker total matched Texas A&M's seven selections for the most by any conference team. Every Big 12 team boasted at least three selections.

The volleyball academic all-league squad consisted of 45 combined first team members with 14 on the second team. Student- athletes had to have a 3.2 or better grade-point average to be eligible for the first team, or a 3.0 to 3.19 GPA to be eligible for the second team. Special recognition was given to Texas A&M junior Beth Weynand, who was nominated with a 4.0 gpa in biomedical science.

Four Huskers earn Academic All-District VII honors
Four Huskers were among the 12 Division I volleyball players who earned Verizon Academic All-District VII honors. Senior Angie Oxley and sophomore Laura Pilakowski were named to the first team, and senior Jill McWilliams and sophomore Greichaly Cepero were named to the second team.

A student-athlete must own a 3.2 GPA or higher, must be a sophomore or above eligibility and must be a starter or a significant reserve for their respective team to be eligible for the honor.

Pilakowski, a native of Columbus, Neb., owns a 3.909 grade-point average in advertising. Oxley, a two-time first-team academic all-Big 12 selection, owns a 3.85 grade-point average in exercise science. Cepero, the only player in the Big 12 to earn league player-of-the-week honors twice in 2000, owns a 3.581 grade-point average in international business. McWilliams, a three-time first-team academic all-Big 12 selection, owns a 3.893 grade-point average in English.

Cook leads NU to No. 1 ranking in first season
It came as no surprise to Husker fans when John Cook was tabbed Nebraska's head volleyball coach by Director of Athletics Bill Byrne on Dec. 14, 1999.

That's because Cook had already shocked the volleyball world one year earlier when he left his post as head coach at Wisconsin, another top 10 program, to take the position as associate head coach for the Huskers, setting up his succession of 23-year head coach Terry Pettit who retired from coaching last season.

Cook is not a stranger to the Husker program. He served as an assistant coach under Terry Pettit for three seasons from 1988 to 1991. In his first season at the helm of the program, Cook has led the Huskers to a No. 1 ranking and a 30-0t to improve his career record to 190-73.

Cook earned praise as one of the game's top young coaches after building the Badger program into a top-10 program during his seven-year career in Madison. Cook, 43, compiled a 161-73 record at the helm of the Badgers, including an 89-51 league mark in the Big Ten, one of the nation's toughest conferences. He was named the Big Ten 12 titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Greichaly Cepero 2000 Update
Greichaly Cepero has continued the long legacy of successful settes at Nebraska, guiding the Huskers to a No. 1 ranking, a 30-0 record and a .316 hitting percentage (second in the nation) in her first season at the position.

Cepero was the only setter ranked in the top 10 of three different Big 12 categories during the regular season. She was 10th in hitting percentage, ninth in assists per game and third in blocks per game. Cepero is also the only setter in the nation who ended the regular season ranked in the NCAA top 20 in blocking (1.51 per game), and she was the only setter in the conference who has led her team in kills in a match (11 vs. Texas Tech Nov. 22). The Dorado, Puerto Rico, native, who was also the first setter in the league to earn Big 12 Volleyball Athlete-of-the-Week honors, is averaging 11.73 assists, 2.17 digs, 1.43 blocks and 1.81 kills per game.

In conference matches, Cepero tallied 2.03 kills per game and 1.68 blocks per game against Big 12 competition, incredible numbers for a setter. Cepero is also averaging 12.19 assists and 2.42 digs per game against league opponents.

Cepero guided the Huskers to a .323 regular-season hitting percentage, a mark that ranks first in the Big 12 and second nationally. Seven Nebraska players are hitting .300 or better under the direction of Cepero.

Cepero leads NU with 11 double-doubles, three of which were triple-doubles. Cepero was just one kill short of the school's first quadruple-double when she produced nine kills, 46 assists, 10 digs and 11 blocks at Texas Oct. 22. Cepero recorded her third triple-double of the season Nov. 8 in leading the Huskers to their first win in College Station, Texas, since 1997, as the Huskers snapped A&M's 28-match home winning streak. The sophomore setter posted career-best totals with 71 assists (17.75 per game) and 18 digs (4.5 per game) while adding 11 blocks (2.75 per game), a mark that tied for the match high. She earned her second Big 12 Conference Player-of-the-Week honor for her efforts.

Cepero also won the conference player-of-the-week award Oct. 2 after sweeps of Colorado and Texas A&M.

Amber Holmquist 2000 Update
With impressive all-around play at the net in recent weeks, sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist is one of three NU sophomores who have emerged as serious candidates for All-America honors. Holmquist is the best blocker in the country, leading the nation with 2.02 per game during the regular season, and she ranked third nationally in hitting percentage before the NCAA Tournament.

If Holmquist maintains her blocks per-game average, she will shatter the Big 12 Conference record of 1.79 per game. She would also break the NU single-season school record of 1.92 set by Stephanie Thater in 1992. Holmquist has already broken a Big 12 Conference record with 16 total blocks at Texas Oct.22. She has led Nebraska in blocking in 21 matches this season. Holmquist is also on pace to break Nebraska single-season records for block assists and total blocks.

If she maintains her hitting percentage, Holmquist could break the Big 12 single-season record of .406 set by Colorado's Kelly Campbell in 1998. She could also finish the season ranked second on the Husker single-season efficiency chart.

The Houston, Texas, native was the only Big 12 player to rank first in two categories among league players. She ranked first in both blocking and hitting percentage.

Holmquist hit .450 in Big 12 matches, where she totaled 3.39 kills per game and 2.14 blocks per game. Holmquist has led NU in blocks 19 times this season and in kills 14 times. She smashed her previous career high of 15 kills with 26 in NU's 3-1 win at Texas A&M Nov. 8.

Holmquist has hit .500 or higher in 14 matches this season, and she has hit .600 or higher six times. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 18, Holmquist produced an amazing six-match stretch in which she hit .522, .667, .750, .500, .500 and .688. Holmquist is one of three Huskers who have earned Big 12 Conference Athlete-of-the-Week honors this season. The others are her sophomore classmates, setter Greichaly Cepero and outside hitter Laura Pilakowski. Cepero and Holmquist were the only players in the conference to win the award twice in 2000.

Laura Pilakowski 2000 Update
Sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski is the third NU sophomore working on an All-America campaign. Pilakowski has been an offensive force for Nebraska in 2000, leading the Huskers with 4.26 kills per game, which ranks eighth on the NU all-time single season charts. Pilakowsk owns a .347 hitting efficiency, the highest percentage by an outside hitter in the Big 12 this season.

Pilakowski has posted seven of the Huskers' top nine kill totals this season, and she has led NU in kills in 13 matches. She has come up big for the Huskers in crucial matches, averaging 4.26 kills per game and 3.00 digs per game against ranked opponents.

During the 2000 regular season, Pilakowski ranked eighth in the conference in hitting percentage and seventh in kills per game.

Pilakowski missed the Huskers' final two matches of the Big 12 season after undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy Nov. 21. She saw limited action in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament, helping the Huskers avoid a near-upset against South Carolina with 15 kills on .306 hitting. Pilakowski leads the Huskers with a team-best 5.00 kills per game in the NCAA Tournament.

Pilakowski's heroics have not gone unnoticed by others this season. The Big 12 Conference honored the Columbus (Neb.) High graduate with its first volleyball athlete-of-the-week honor and was named a first-team all-Big 12 selection in November. Pilakowski, who played in just nine matches for Nebraska as a freshman in 1999, was also the MVP of the US Bank Tournament and was named to the Notre Dame adidas Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Jenny Kropp 2000 Update
Junior Jenny Kropp has quietly produced an impressive 2000 campaign.

A 6-foot-2 middle blocker, Kropp ended the regular season ranked fifth nationally in blocks per game. She is second to Holmquist in the Big 12 Conference in that category. In league matches, Kropp averaged 1.73 blocks per game. She has led Nebraska in blocks 12 times this season.

Through the 2000 season, Kropp ranks third on the team with a 2.69 kills-per-game average. She averaged a slightly higher 2.85 kills per game in Big 12 matches. The Grand Island, Neb., native ranks second among Big 12 Conference players with a .361 hitting percentage in league matches, and she is hitting .348 on the year.

One of the few middle blockers in the Big 12 who plays the full rotation regularly, Kropp averages 1.39 digs per game and tallied a career-best 14 digs at Baylor Nov. 18. She is sixth on the team with 19 service aces in 2000.