%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Nebraska’s Melissa Elmer and Jennifer Saleaumua were among the 12 players named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Central Region team released Wednesday morning. Both will now move on to the AVCA All-America ballot. The All-America teams will be released Wednesday, Dec. 17.
"We are certainly not surprised that Jenn and Melissa were recognized with this honor," NU Coach John Cook said. "Elmer is one of most dominant middle blockers in the nation, as indicated by her blocks-per-game average and her hitting percentage. Jenn at times is one of the most well-rounded outside hitters in the country. She broke our Nebraska single-season digs record, she leads us in kills, and she is an outstanding blocker. Jenn is a complete player and has impacted matches in several ways this season."
Elmer, a 6-2 middle blocker, was the Big 12 Conference’s top blocker and most efficient hitter in Big 12 play, as she posted 1.64 blocks per game and a .379 hitting percentage. Elmer tallied a career-high 15 blocks at Kansas Oct. 8, which was the highest total by a Big 12 player in 2003, the third-most ever by an NU player and the most by a Husker in the rally-scoring era. On the season, Elmer is averaging 3.07 kills per game on a .360 hitting. Elmer broke the Nebraska single-match postseason record for hitting percentage with a .737 (15 kills, one error, 19 attempts) against Dayton Dec. 6 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native also earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2003.
Saleaumua, a 5-11 outside hitter, was one of the top all-around players in the Big 12 Conference in 2003, as she leads the Huskers in kills per game (3.28), digs per game (3.87) and double-doubles (16 kills-digs). A two-time first-team All-Big 12 pick, Saleaumua is tied for third on the team with 33 service aces and is hitting .261 on the season. Saleaumua ranked second in the Big 12 in digs per game, and she has averaged 4.37 digs per game in 11 matches against ranked teams. Saleaumua has tallied 422 digs in 2003, breaking the NU single-season record of 390 set by Kate Crnich in 1996. The National City, Calif., native was an All-Region honorable-mention selection as a freshman in 2002.