Elmer Earns AVCA All-America Honors

Nebraska’s Melissa Elmer was among the 36 student-athletes named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America teams announced Wednesday. The honor was the first for the sophomore middle blocker, who earned second-team recognition.

Elmer, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., is third NU middle blocker in the past three years to earn AVCA All-America honors. She is also the 23rd All-American in Nebraska volleyball history, and the players have combined for 46 All-America awards.

"I remember at the beginning of the season, people were asking who our next All-American was going to be, and we felt like Melissa was the next in line for that honor," NU Coach John Cook said. "We challenged her with that, and she obviously responded very well. This is a well-deserved honor. We feel like she was the most dominant middle blocker in the Big 12 Conference this year. She had an impact on a number of matches, and I think her statistics will only get higher as our setters gain more experience."

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Elmer averaged 3.09 kills per game on a .353 hitting percentage and 1.59 blocks per game to lead the Huskers to a 28-5 record in 2003. She was the Big 12 Conference’s top blocker and most efficient hitter in league play, as she led the league in blocks per game (1.64) and hitting percentage (.379). 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.

Elmer has etched her name on several other Husker charts. She ranked third on the NU single-season charts with 169 block assists in 2003, and sixth with 186 total blocks. Elmer also broke the NU postseason record for hitting percentage in a single match, as she hit .737 (15-1-19) Dec. 6 against Dayton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Elmer was recognized throughout the season for her contributions. She earned AVCA All-Central region honors and first-team All-Big 12 honors for the first time in her career. Elmer was also named the Big 12 Player of the Week on Oct. 13, and she was selected as the MVP of the Illinois State/Barker GMC Classic (Aug. 29-30) and the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic (Sept. 5-6).

NU sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua took honorable-mention All-America honors. Saleaumua led the Huskers in kills per game (3.27) and digs per game (3.90), which ranked second in the Big 12. She hit .254 on the season and also tied for third on the team with 33 service aces. Saleaumua shattered the Husker single-season digs record, recording 441 to eclipse the previous mark of 390 set by Kate Crnich in 1996.