Pavan Leads Big 12 Honorees

DALLAS ? The University of Nebraska volleyball program won four of the six awards in voting by the Big 12 Coaches released Monday.

Sophomore Sarah Pavan was selected as the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Jennifer Saleaumua (Defensive Player of the Year) and Jordan Larson (Freshman of the Year) also earned league accolades. In addition to the three players, Head Coach John Cook was tabbed as the league’s Coach of the Year for the second time in his six seasons at Nebraska.

Pavan, the 2004 National and Big 12 Freshman of the Year, leads the Huskers with 3.79 kills per game, including 3.93 kills per game in Big 12 matches. The 6-foot-5 sophomore ranks among the league’s top-10 in points (4.87/fourth), kills (fifth), hitting percentage (sixth) and blocks (1.27/eighth). Pavan has tallied three double-doubles this season in addition to her first career triple-double against Pepperdine on Sept. 9. She recorded 11 kills, 11 blocks and 10 digs, becoming the first Husker outside hitter since 1999 to accomplish the feat. She is NU’s first Big 12 Player of the Year since 2002 and it marks the 16th time a Husker has been chosen as the league’s top player.

Saleaumua, a four-time all-conference selection, led all Big 12 outside hitters and ranked sixth in the league with 3.87 digs per game. The 5-11 senior, a four-time All-Big 12 pick, also added 2.33 kills per game and 0.78 blocks per game. One of only two players in Big 12 history to record 1,000 kills and digs, Saleaumua earned the league’s top defensive honor for the second straight year.

Larson was chosen as the Big 12’s top freshman as she averaged 2.99 kills and 2.72 digs per game. The 6-foot-2 outside hitter led all conference freshmen in kills, digs, hitting percentage and service aces in 2005. Larson also posted five double-doubles, including three against Top 10 teams.

In addition to the three aforementioned players, outside hitter Christina Houghtelling and Melissa Elmer were also chosen as first-team All-Big 12 selections. Elmer leads the nation with 2.15 blocks per game and is second in the Big 12 in hitting percentage, as she was a third-team selection for the third straight year. Houghtelling earned her first Big 12 honor, as she ranks among the Big 12 leaders in both kills (3.65/10th) and hitting percentage (.360/sixth). Houghtelling also leads all Big 12 outside hitters in hitting percentage.

Cook led NU to its eighth Big 12 crown with a 19-1 league mark. The Huskers (28-1) have been ranked No. 1 in the nation for 54 weeks all-time, including the entire 2005 season, in the CSTV/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll. Cook and his squad also earned the 2005 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship's No. 1 seed. NU is 10-1 versus ranked opponents and 5-0 against Top 10 teams. The Huskers have posted a 116-4 Big 12 record with Cook at the helm of the program, including 58-2 on the road.

Philister Sang (Texas Tech) was tabbed the Newcomer of the Year while Tatum Ailes (Missouri) was selected Libero of the Year. The All-Big 12 honors are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Big 12 Honors

Player of the Year: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska, OH, 6-5, So., Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate InstituteNewcomer of the Year: Philister Sang, Texas Tech, OH, 6-3, Jr., Nairobi, Kenya/Indian Hills CCFreshman of the Year: Jordan Larson, Nebraska, OH, 6-2, Fr., Hooper, Neb./Logan ViewDefensive Player of the Year: Jennifer Saleaumua, Nebraska, OH, 5-11, Sr., National City, Calif./Bonita VistaLibero of the Year: Tatum Ailes, Missouri, L, 5-6, So., Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue WestCoach of the Year: John Cook, Nebraska

First-Team All-Big 12

Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown/Previous SchoolAllie Griffin, Colorado RS 6-0 Sr. Baton Rouge, La./Santa Fe Christian (San Diego, Calif.)Josi Lima, Kansas MB 6-0 Sr. Sao Paulo, Brazil/AvancoAgata Rezende, Kansas State OH 6-2 Sr. Franca, Brazil/Western Nebraska CCLindsey Hunter, Missouri S 5-10 Sr. Papillion, Neb./Papillion-LaVistaJessica Vander Kooi, Missouri OH 6-2 Jr. Merill, Iowa/HintonMelissa Elmer, Nebraska MB 6-2 Sr. Fort Wayne, Ind./NorthropChristina Houghtelling, Nebraska OH 6-2 Jr. Cambridge, Neb./CambridgeSarah Pavan, Nebraska OH 6-5 So. Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate InstituteLeticia Armstrong, Texas MB 6-1 So. Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart CentralBrandy Magee, Texas MB 6-2 Jr. Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano ValleyMichelle Moriarty, Texas S 5-10 So. Houston, Texas/StratfordLaura Jones, Texas A&M OH 6-2 Sr. Arlington, Texas/Martin

Honorable-Mention All-Big 12

Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown/Previous SchoolAshley Nu'u Colorado S 5-10 Jr. Aurora, Colo./Smoky HillErin Boeve, Iowa State OH/MB 6-2 So. Steen, Minn./Hills-Beaver CreekNicole Wilson, Missouri MB 6-3 Jr. Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln ChristianJordan Larson, Nebraska OH 6-2 Fr. Hooper, Neb./Logan ViewJennifer Saleaumua, Nebraska OH 5-11 Sr. National City, Calif./Bonita VistaDariam Acevedo, Texas OH 5-10 Jr. Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico/Oregon