Elmer, Saleaumua Earn All-Big 12 Honors

Dallas, Texas -- Nebraska’s Melissa Elmer and Jennifer Saleaumua were among the 12 student-athletes named to the 2003 Big 12 Volleyball All-Conference First Team announced Sunday night. The selection is the second for Saleaumua, a sophomore outside hitter who also earned first-team honors in 2002. Elmer, a sophomore middle blocker, is making her first appearance on the team.

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Elmer was the conference’s top blocker and most efficient hitter in Big 12 play, as she led the league in blocks per game (1.64) and hitting percentage (.379). Elmer tallied a career-high 15 blocks at Kansas Oct. 8, which was the highest total by a Big 12 player in 2003, the third-most ever by an NU player and the most by a Husker in the rally-scoring era. On the season, she averaged 3.05 kills per game and hit .356 on the season and swung at a .400 clip or better 10 times this season. Elmer’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. She was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week Oct. 8. She also earned MVP honors at the Illinois State Barker GMC Classic Aug. 30 and the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic Sept. 6.

Saleaumua, a National City, Calif., native, was one of the top all-around players in the league in 2003, as she led the Huskers in kills per game (3.24), digs per game (3.86) and double-doubles (16 kills-digs). Saleaumua also ranked fourth on the team with 31 service aces and hit .259 on the season. Saleaumua ranks second in the Big 12 in digs per game, and she averaged 4.37 digs per game in 11 matches against ranked teams. Saleaumua has tallied 398 digs in 2003, breaking the NU single-season record of 390 set by Kate Crnich in 1996.

2003 All-Big 12 Volleyball Team
FIRST TEAM
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Lauren Goehring, Kansas State MB 6-0 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas
Melissa Elmer, Nebraska MB 6-2 So. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Melissa Munsch, Texas A&M OH/MB 6-1 Jr. Columbus, Texas
Gabby Guerre, Kansas State S 6-1 Jr. Houston, Texas
Josiane Lima, Kansas MB 6-0 So. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Jennifer Saleaumua, Nebraska OH 5-11 So. National City, Calif.
Monique Gerlach, Colorado MB 5-11 Sr. Monarch Beach, Calif.
Valeria Hejjas, Kansas State OH 5-11 Jr. Kecskemet, Hungary
Lindsey Hunter, Missouri S 5-10 So. Papillion, Neb.
Bethany Howden, Texas OH/MB 6-2 Jr. Austin, Texas
Mira Topic, Texas OH 6-3 Jr. Kastela Kambelovac, Croatia
Shen Danru, Missouri OH 5-11 So. Shanghai, China

HONORABLE MENTION
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Laura Downey-Wallace L 5-9 Sr. LaMesa, Calif.
Laura Jones, Texas A&M OH 6-2 So Arlington, Texas
Lisa Martin, Kansas State MB 6-0 Jr. Hutchinson, Kan.
Kelly Johnson, Texas Tech OH 5-10 Jr. Fort Worth, Texas
Tisha Schwartz, Baylor OH/MB 6-3 Sr. Amarillo, Texas
Ashley Michaels, Kansas MB 6-1 Jr. Wathena, Kan.

Coach of the Year: Suzie Fritz, Kansas State
Player of the Year: Lauren Goehring, Kansas State

Newcomer of the Year: Valeria Hejjas, Kansas State

Freshman of the Year: Jessica Vander Kooi, Missouri

Defensive Specialist of the Year: Juliana Godoi, Missouri, Sr, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Libero of the Year: Laura Downey-Wallace, Kansas State