Cepero Named 2000 Big 12 Volleyball Player of the Year

Dallas -- Nebraska sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero earned Big 12 Conference Player-of-the-Year honors in a vote by the league's head coaches, the conference office announced Sunday. Cepero, a 6-2 native of Dorado, Puerto Rico, earned the honor after guiding the Huskers to a No. 1 ranking, a 28-0 record and a .323 hitting percentage (second in the nation) in her first season at the position.

Cepero is the only setter ranked in the top 20 of four different Big 12 categories. She is 11th in hitting percentage, ninth in assists per game, third in blocks per game and 18th in service aces per game. She is also the only setter in the conference who has led her team in kills in a match (11 vs. Texas Tech Nov. 22). Cepero was also the first setter in the league to earn Big 12 Volleyball Athlete-of-the-Week honors, is averaging 11.69 assists, 2.17 digs, 1.51 blocks and 1.83 kills per game.

Four other Huskers joined Cepero on the Big 12 honor list. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski, sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist and junior middle blocker Jenny Kropp were named to the all-conference squad, while senior right side hitter Angie Oxley earned honorable-mention recognition.

Pilakowski, a native of Columbus, Neb., has been an offensive force for Nebraska in 2000, leading the Huskers with 4.22 kills per game on a .351 hitting efficiency, the highest percentage by an outside hitter in the Big 12. Holmquist, the nation's best blocker at 2.20 blocks per game, will most likely shatter the Big 12 Conference record of 1.79 per game. The Houston, Texas, native could also break the NU single-season school record of 1.92 set by Stephanie Thater in 1992. Holmquist has already broken a Big 12 Conference record with 16 total blocks at Texas Oct.22. She has led Nebraska in blocking in 16 matches this season. Holmquist is also on pace to break Nebraska single-season records for block assists and total blocks.

Kropp, a product of Grand Island, Neb., ranks fourth nationally in blocks per game. She is second to Holmquist in the Big 12 Conference in that category. In league matches, Kropp averaged 1.81 blocks per game. She has led Nebraska in blocks 12 times this season. Oxley, a native of Ogallala, Neb., leads Nebraska with 28 service aces and 2.81 digs per game.

The top-ranked Huskers, who boasted more all-conference honorees than any other Big 12 team, became just the second team in school history to finish the regular season undefeated. Nebraska, 28-0 overall and 20-0 in the league, clinched its fourth Big 12 title in five years nearly three weeks ago. The Huskers will play host to their 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament this week after earning the league's automatic qualifying berth.

Other notable Big 12 honorees were Missouri head coach Susan Kreklow, the 2000 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Texas A&M middle blocker Tara Pulaski, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Baylor outside hitter Stevie Nicholas, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and Texas Tech's Heather Hughes-Justice, the Big 12 Defensive Specialist of the Year.

Name, School	Pos.	Ht.	Cl.	Hometown
Greichaly Cepero	S	6-2	So.	Dorado, Puerto Rico
Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska	OH	6-0	So.	Columbus, Neb.
Amber Holmquist, Nebraska	MB	6-4	So.	Houston, Texas
Liz Wegner, Kansas State	OH	5-10	Jr.	Grand Island, Neb.
Jenny Kropp, Nebraska	MB	6-2	Jr.	Grand Island, Neb.
Jenna Moscovic, Texas A&M	S	5-11	Jr.	Stockton, Calif.
Erin Gibson, Texas A&M	OH	5-11	Jr.	Houston, Texas
Colleen Smith, Texas Tech	MB/OH	6-7	Sr.	Albuquerque, N.M.
Kelle Branting, Kansas State	MB	6-1	Sr.	North Platte, Neb.
Stevie Nicholas, Baylor	OH	5-10	Fr.	Fullerton, Calif.
Elizabeth Gower, Colorado	S	6-0	So.	Naperville, Ill.
Lisa Morris, Missouri	OH	6-0	So.	Overland Park, Kan.
Melissa McGehee, Texas Tech	S/OH	5-10	So.	Kerrville, Texas
HONORABLE MENTION
Name, School	Pos.	Ht.	Cl.	Hometown
Heather Gerber, Missouri	S	5-9	Sr.	Colorado Springs, Colo.
Heather Marshall, Texas A&M	MB	6-0	Sr.	Carrollton, Texas
Angie Oxley, Nebraska	RS	6-0	Sr.	Ogallala, Neb.
Disney Bronnenberg, Kansas State	S	5-9	Jr.	Heltonville, Ind.
Christi Myers, Missouri	MB	6-0	So.	Raytown, Mo.
Meghan Barkman, Colorado	MB	6-2	So.	Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Coach of the Year: Susan Kreklow, Missouri
Player of the Year: Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
Newcomer of the Year: Tara Pulaski, Texas A&M
Freshman of the Year: Stevie Nicholas, Baylor
Defensive Specialist of the Year: Heather Hughes-Justice, Texas Tech