Foecke Named Semifinalist for AAU Sullivan Award

ORLANDO, Fla. – Nebraska freshman outside hitter Mikaela Foecke has been named one of 17 semifinalists for the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) announced Monday.

Foecke was one of the most highly touted volleyball recruits coming out of high school and made an immediate impact this season for the Huskers. She led Nebraska to its fourth NCAA Championship and became just the third freshman to earn NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honors after recording 19 kills on .385 hitting in the championship win against Texas.

Along with an NCAA Championship, Foecke earned AVCA All-America honorable mention, All-North Region First Team and was named National Freshman of the Year by PrepVolleyball.com. She was a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection after averaging 3.09 kills per set with a .277 hitting percentage, including a career-high 22-kill performance at Penn State in October.

Foecke is trying to become the first volleyball athlete in history to claim the AAU Sullivan Award. Most recently, former Husker Kelsey Robinson was a finalist for the award in 2014. 

“The AAU James E. Sullivan Award is a one-of-a-kind honor for all of our semifinalists,” said Melissa Willis, AAU Sullivan Award National Chair. “It is remarkably unique in that it allows us the opportunity to recognize the most elite amateur athletes across every sport imaginable.”

The AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. Representatives from the AAU created the Sullivan Award with the intent to recognize amateur contributions and achievements from non-professional athletes across the country.

World renowned golfer Robert “Bobby” Jones received the inaugural award in 1930 and swimmer Anne Curtis became the first female to accept the award in 1944. Other notable athletes to win the award include famed Olympians Mark Spitz (1971), Carl Lewis (1981), Jackie Joyner-Kersee (1986) and Michael Phelps (2003). Former UCLA basketball star Bill Walton (1973) and University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning (1997) have also earned the prestigious honor.

"We are truly excited about this year's class of semifinalists for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award," said Dr. Roger Goudy, President/CEO of the AAU. "Each one of them embodies everything this award aims to celebrate – athletic achievement, leadership, citizenship, character and sportsmanship – both on and off the field."

Joining Foecke as a semifinalist for the 86th AAU Sullivan Award is Derrick Henry (Alabama football), Deshaun Watson (Clemson football), Christian McCaffrey (Stanford football), Keenan Reynolds (Navy football), Andrew Benintendi (Arkansas baseball), Ben Simmons (LSU basketball), Nirra Fields (UCLA basketball), Kelsey Minato (Army basketball), Breanna Stewart (UCONN basketball), Ashleigh Johnson (USA Water Polo), Jordan Burroughs (USA Wrestling), Adeline Gray (USA Wrestling), Jamie Greubel Poser (USA Bobsled), Jordan Wilimovsky (USA Swimming), Brittany Bowe (USA Speed Skating) and Simone Biles (USA Gymnastics).

Voting is open to the public at www.aausullivan.org. Semifinalist voting opens today and will close on March 14. Finalists for the 86th AAU Sullivan Award will be named on March 17.