NU Preseason Pick to Win Big 12 Crown

Lincoln -- Despite losing three starters, including two All-Americans, defending Big 12 champion Nebraska is picked to repeat as conference champion in a vote of the league's head coaches released Tuesday by the conference office. Husker junior rightside hitter Nancy Meendering is the preseason favorite for Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors, while NU freshman Laura Pilakowski was the early pick for Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Nebraska, which posted a 32-2 record and reached the NCAA Final Four for the third time in three years last season, received 10 first-place votes (coaches weren't allowed to vote for their own team). Nebraska will be gunning for its 22nd conference title in 24 seasons after winning 19 Big Eight titles and the 1996 and 1998 Big 12 crowns.

"Obviously we are happy to see that we are picked to win the Big 12 again this season," Nebraska Head Coach Terry Pettit said. "But the Big 12 Conference is one of the toughest conferences in the country, and in order to win the conference crown we will have to be ready to play for each of those 20 matches. Six teams from the league have qualified for the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, so these are experienced and talented teams."

Texas A&M is picked to finish second, followed by Texas, winner of the 1997 conference title, in third. Colorado is the fourth-place choice, with Kansas State fifth and Texas Tech sixth. The top six teams all competed in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Baylor is the seventh selection, Oklahoma eighth, Kansas ninth, Missouri 10th and Iowa State 11th.

Meendering, a 6-1 lefty from Hull, Iowa, was a unanimous first-team all-conference pick and a first-team AVCA All-American last year in her first season as a starter. She also was named MVP of the NCAA Tournament Pacific Regional and finished the season with 518 kills (3.74 per game) and a .279 hitting percentage. Meendering was the only Nebraska player selected to the preseason team, but senior outside hitter Mandy Monson, junior outside hitter Angie Oxley and senior middle blocker Tonia Tauke also received votes.

Pilakowski, a 6-1 outside hitter/middle blocker, is a three-time all-state selection and was named the 1998 Gatorade Circle of Champions Nebraska and Central Region Volleyball Player of the Year.

Joining Meendering on the preseason All-Big 12 team is Baylor's Elisha Polk, Colorado's Kelly Campbell, Texas' Erin Aldrich, and Texas A&M's Amber Woolsey and Jenna Moscovic.

Texas Tech middle blocker/outside hitter Colleen Smith was chosen as newcomer of the year. The 6-7 junior from Albuquerque, N.M., is a transfer from Washington State.

The 1999 season for Big 12 teams opens on Friday, Aug. 27, when Nebraska hosts Pacific in the State Farm/NACWAA Volleyball Classic in the Nebraska Coliseum at 7 p.m.

1999 Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll

1. Nebraska	100
2. Texas A&M	91
3. Texas	75
4. Colorado	69
5. Kansas State	64
6. Texas Tech	61
7. Baylor	45
8. Oklahoma	36
9. Kansas	27
10. Missouri	26
11. Iowa State	11

1999 Preseason Big 12 Team

Elisha Polk, Baylor	OH	5-10	Sr/3L	Sacramento, Calif.
Kelly Campbell, Colorado	S	6-1	Sr/3L	Corona Del Mar, Calif.
Nancy Meendering, Nebraska	OH	6-1	Jr/2L	Hull, Iowa
Erin Aldrich, Texas	MB	6-2	Sr/1L	Dallas, Texas
Jenna Moscovic, Texas A&M	S	5-11	So/1L	Stockton, Calif.
Amber Woolsey, Texas A&M	MB	6-3	Sr/3L	Chaska, Minn.

Others Receiving Votes: Amanda Reves, Kansas; Dawn Cady, Kansas State; Disney Bronnenberg, Kansas State; Liz Wegner, Kansas State; Mandy Monson, Nebraska; Angie Oxley, Nebraska; Tonia Tauke, Nebraska; Summer Strickland, Texas A&M; Lori Garber, Texas Tech; Courtney Putnam, Texas Tech

Player of the Year: Nancy Meendering, Nebraska
Newcomer of the Year: Colleen Smith, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year: Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska