Three Huskers Earn AVCA All-America Selections

LINCOLN, Neb. - Three members of the Nebraska volleyball team earned AVCA All-America team honors on Wednesday, while two received honorable mention. 

Junior outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen earned first-team All-America honors for the first time in her career after two straight years as a third-team All-American. Her twin sister, junior middle blocker Amber Rolfzen, was a second-team All-American, the first selection of her career. Junior libero Justine Wong-Orantes was also honored for the first time in her career, as she earned third-team All-America status.

Sophomore setter Kelly Hunter and freshman outside hitter Mikaela Foecke received honorable mention.

The Huskers increased their nation-leading total to 80 AVCA All-America certificates all-time. Amber Rolfzen and Wong-Orantes became the 39th and 40th Huskers in school history to achieve All-America honors. That total also leads the nation. 

Kadie Rolfzen, a unanimous All-Big Ten selection, leads the Huskers with 3.34 kills and 2.86 digs per set. She has 16 double-doubles this season and is on a run of nine straight postseason double-doubles dating back to her freshman season in 2013. Rolfzen is Nebraska's first three-time All-American since Jordan Larson (2006 to 2008). The Papillion-La Vista South graduate has helped key the Huskers' run to the final four, as she was named the Lexington Regional Most Valuable Player after averaging 4.57 kills per set, 3.86 digs per set and hitting .397 in the two matches. She had 20 kills and 15 digs against No. 1 Washington to lead Nebraska to its first NCAA Semifinals appearance since 2008.

Amber Rolfzen is a newcomer to the AVCA All-America Second Team. She has enjoyed a breakout year after a position switch to middle blocker and becomes the first Husker middle to earn All-America honors since Brooke Delano in 2010. Rolfzen was an All-Big Ten pick and is third nationally in blocks per set with 1.61, the best block average by a Husker since Melissa Elmer's school-record 2.17 in 2005. Rolfzen is putting up 2.31 kills and hitting .358 on the season. Rolfzen was named to the Lexington Regional All-Tournament Team last week with 3.0 kills and 1.86 blocks per set.

Wong-Orantes, a junior libero from Cypress, Calif., is also a first-time honoree. Wong-Orantes was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and averages 4.53 digs per set. Wong-Orantes was second in the Big Ten in digs per set in conference matches (4.57) and ranks fourth in school history in career digs. She has picked up an impressive list of accolades in her junior season, including espnW National Player of the Week on Oct. 7 following a career-high 30 digs at Penn State. Wong-Orantes was named to the Lexington Regional All-Tournament Team last week, averaging 5.86 digs per set. Wong-Orantes is the first Husker libero to become an All-American. 

Hunter leads the Huskers with 11.57 assists per set. Hunter has helped the Huskers play at a faster tempo this season and has the Huskers hitting .275 on the season after hitting .236 in 2014.

The freshman Foecke has been an impact player for the Huskers since the beginning of the season. Foecke is second on the team in kills per set (3.01) and service aces (24). She was one of four freshmen to unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors.

The Huskers arrived in Omaha on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's NCAA Semifinal match against Kansas at 8:30 p.m. at the CenturyLink Center.