Huskers Place Seven on Academic All-Big 12 Teams

DALLAS-- Seven University of Nebraska volleyball players were among the 52 student-athletes named to the 2004 volleyball academic All-Big 12 team released Tuesday by the conference office.

Nebraska placed a league-best six members on the first team, including two-time selections Michelle Lynch and Kelsey Fautsch. Other first-team recipients included sophomores Dani Busboom, Christina Houghtelling, Dani Mancuso and Amanda McCormick. All-American Melissa Elmer rounded out the seven honorees, as she was a second-team pick. Nebraska and Missouri each had seven recipients on the 2004 academic All-Big 12 squads.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the volleyball academic all-league squad consisted of 37 first team members combined with 15 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or in each of the two previous semesters while participating in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are eligible.

Nebraska is 23-1 overall and 16-0 in the Big 12 heading into Wednesday’s match at No. 25 Missouri. The Huskers, who are ranked third in this week's USA Today/CSTV Coaches poll, can clinch at least a share of a possible seventh league title Wednesday against the Tigers. The match will be carried on selected Pinnacle Sports Network stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, and will be video-streamed on the Internet at HuskersNside.com.

-- Huskers --