Four Huskers Named All-Region

Lincoln -- Four Nebraska volleyball players were honored Wednesday afternoon, as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its all-region teams. Sydney Anderson, Kori Cooper and Brooke Delano were named to the 14-member Central Region first-team, while Hannah Werth was named honorable-mention and  selected as the Central Region Freshman of the Year.

 

All four players will be on the national ballot for All-America honors, and it marks the sixth straight season that Nebraska has had at least three first-team all-region picks.

 

Anderson is honored as a first-team All-Central Region pick for the second time in her career, as she enters this weekend's NCAA Regional averaging 11.57 assists, 0.78 kills and 2.46 digs per set. She ranks 12th nationally in assists, while running an offense that ranks in the top 10 nationally in both kills and assists per game. She owns a team-high 14 double-doubles and has helped the Huskers hit .300 or better in 12 matches. She has produced 50 or more assists five times, including a career-best 57 assists in a sweep of Missouri on Oct. 18.

 

Cooper is a first-team All-Central Region selection for the second straight year, as she averages 2.46 kills and 0.85 blocks per set after returning from knee surgery last November. She leads the Big 12 in hitting percentage at .373 and has reached double figures in kills six times this season, including a career-high 16 kills on .414 hitting against Iowa State on Oct. 21. She hit .400 or better in 12 matches this season, including a career-high .765 with 13 kills against Texas A&M on Nov. 13.

 

Delano was selected in her first season as Nebraska's starting middle blocker, as she averages 2.32 kills and 1.14 blocks per set. She ranks third in the Big 12 in hitting percentage and fourth in blocks, and is the only sophomore to rank in the top-10 in both categories. She is one of only two sophomores on the 14-member Central Region Team. She reached double figures in kills in 10 matches, including a season-high 14 kills against Oklahoma and No. 11 Minnesota. Her best offensive night was against Missouri on Nov. 4, when she totaled 10 kills on .833 hitting against the Tigers.

 

Werth rounds out the selections, as she becomes the fourth Husker freshman to be named Central Region Freshman of the Year. She joins Greichaly Cepero (1999), Sarah Pavan (2004) and Jordan Larson (2005) on the distinguished list and is one of eight finalists for AVCA National Freshman of the Year. On the season, Werth enters the NCAA Regional averaging a team-high 3.24 kills and 3.07 digs per set. She led all Big 12 freshmen in kills and is second on the Husker squad in both digs and double-doubles (13). Werth was a six-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week and totaled a season-high 19 kills in a win over Oklahoma on Oct. 24. Last weekend, she averaged 4.17 kills and 4.17 digs per set in helping Nebraska make its 16th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance.

 

This weekend's Omaha Regional will feature 10 of the 14 players on the All-Region Team. Tickets are available for this weekend by visiting Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.