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Dallas, Texas -- Nebraska junior rightside hitter Nancy Meendering, a native of Hull, Iowa, landed Big 12 Conference Player-of-the-Year honors Sunday in a vote by the league head coaches after the Huskers won their third Big 12 Conference title and 22nd conference title overall with a win over Texas on Saturday. Meendering was a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection for the second straight year and was joined on the first team by freshman Greichaly Cepero, a 6-2 rightside hitter from Dorado, Puerto Rico.
Cepero was also honored as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year after starting all 30 matches for the Huskers during the regular season. Freshman Amber Holmquist, a 6-4 middle blocker from Houston, Texas, and Angie Oxley, a 6-0 outside hitter from Ogallala, Neb., also garnered all-conference honors, earning honorable-mention acccolades.
The Huskers, currently ranked No. 11 in the USA Today/AVCA Poll, compiled a 25-5 overall record and a 17-3 conference mark to win its third Big 12 title. The Huskers overcame a 2-2 conference start and stormed through the second half of the conference season by posting a perfect 10-0 record, including eight three-game victories. Nebraska will play in its 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament this week after earning the Big 12's automatic qualifying berth.
Meendering, a 1998 AVCA All-American, leads the Huskers in kills (5.08 per game) and blocks (140), ranking second and fourth in the Big 12, respectively. She also ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a .309 hitting efficiency. She led the Huskers in kills in 26 of 30 matches this season and recorded three 30-kill performances, including a school-record 39 against Kansas State on Sept. 22. Meendering is the ninth Husker to earn the honor of conference player of the year. Fiona Nepo earned the honor as a senior last season. Other Husker winners include Lisa Reitsma (1996), Allison Weston (1994, 1995), Nikki Stricker (1993), Stephanie Thater (1991, 1992), Val Novak (1990), Virginia Stahr (1989) and Lori Endicott (1987).
Cepero is only the second Husker win the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award. Oxley won the award in 1997. Cepero was the only freshman to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors. Cepero became the first Husker to earn a regular starting role since Allison Weston in 1992, starting all 30 matches and playing in 95 of 104 games. She was third on the team in kills with 207 (2.18 per game) and fifth on the team in digs with 197 (2.07 per game). She was also fourth in service aces with 22 and recorded 81 total blocks.
Kansas State's Jim McLaughlin was named Big 12 Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to their first-ever wins over Nebraska and Texas. Kansas State finished fourth in the conference with a 14-6 mark and compiled a 20-8 overall record.
Oklahoma's Cathy Cook nabbed Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year and was named honorable-mention All-Big 12.
1999 All-Big 12 Conference Volleyball Team
First Team
|
*Nancy Meendering, Nebraska |
RS |
6-1 |
Jr. |
Hull, Iowa |
|
Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska |
RS |
6-2 |
Fr. |
Dorado Puerto Rico |
|
*Amber Woolsey, Texas A&M |
MB |
6-3 |
Sr. |
Chaska, Minn. |
|
Summer Strickland, Texas A&M |
RS |
5-11 |
Sr. |
El Paso, Texas |
|
Jenna Moscovic, Texas A&M |
S |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Stockton, Calif. |
|
*Kia Young, Baylor |
OH |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
|
Elisha Polk, Baylor |
OH |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Sacramento, Calif. |
|
*Dawn Cady, Kansas State |
OH |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Marshall, Minn. |
|
#Disney Bronnenberg, Kansas State |
S |
5-9 |
So. |
Heltonville, Ind. |
|
*Erin Aldrich, Texas |
MB |
6-2 |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
|
#Kathy Tilson, Texas |
OH |
6-0 |
So. |
Austin, Texas |
|
*Kelly Campbell, Colorado |
S |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Corona Del Mar, Calif. |
|
#Kristin Engelking, Colorado |
MB |
5-11 |
Sr. |
Cypress, Texas |
|
Amanda Reves, Kansas |
MB |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Denver, Colo. |
*Unanimous selection
#tied for final spot
Honorable Mention
|
Amber Holmquist, Nebraska |
MB |
6-4 |
Fr. |
Houston, Texas |
|
Angie Oxley, Nebraska |
OH |
6-0 |
Jr. |
Ogallala, Neb. |
|
Cathy Cook, Oklahoma |
MB |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Irvine, Calif. |
|
Amy Myatt, Kansas |
OH |
6-0 |
Jr. |
Iowa City, Iowa |
|
Liz Wegner, Kansas State |
OH |
5-10 |
So. |
Grand Island, Neb. |
|
Jill Gremmel, Texas |
S |
5-11 |
Jr. |
Dubuque, Iowa |
Player of the Year: Nancy Meendering, Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
Coach of the Year: Jim McLaughlin, Kansas State
Newcomer of the Year: Cathy Cook, Oklahoma