Huskers, Jacobson Earn Big 12 Honors

Dallas --- After guiding the Nebraska women's tennis team to one of the greatest seasons in program history, Coach Scott Jacobson was named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, the league office announced Monday. The Big 12 office also released the coaches all-conference teams, which included Gitte Ostermann in singles play and Ostermann and Katie Garcia in doubles.

In his 14th season guiding the Huskers, Jacobson led Nebraska to an 18-3 overall mark during the regular season, including a 9-2 record in league competition. The nine wins are the most by a Husker squad in conference play, as it marks only the third time in the Big 12 Conference era that NU has finished above .500 in league action. Nebraska ? which is just one win away from tying the school record for wins in a season ? finished the conference season in third place in the standings.

Nebraska reached as high as No. 30 in the nation in the ITA poll earlier this season. The Huskers, who fell in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championships last weekend, are currently ranked No. 38 in the most recent poll. Nebraska has been ranked between No. 30 and No. 38 for each of the past 11 weeks.

Much of Nebraska's success can also be attributed to Ostermann, who was named to the All-Big 12 team in singles play. Ostermann, who is ranked No. 43 nationally in this week's ITA singles poll, was one of 12 players selected to the squad, and one of just three unanimous picks. The team was selected by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Ostermann, who finished the fall 2004 season ranked in the top 20, opened the spring season at No. 18 nationally, the highest ranking ever for a Husker. The Luneberg, Germany native owns a 17-3 singles record this spring while playing primarily at the No. 1 position. The all-conference selection was the third of Ostermann's career.

Ostermann also propelled the Huskers in doubles play, as she and teammate Katie Garcia own a 14-5 record this spring while being named to the All-Big 12 Team. They earned the program's highest doubles ranking ever when they opened the season with 10 straight wins and were ranked No. 23. Garcia and Ostermann were one of six tandems honored by the league. Garcia is a native of Lincoln and a three-year captain.

Nebraska will wait to find out its fate on Wednesday, May 4, when the NCAA Championships field is announced on ESPN News. The Huskers are looking for the first at-large berth in the championship field in school history.