Foecke Heads to New York for AAU Sullivan Ceremony

Nebraska volleyball outside hitter Mikaela Foecke heads to the New York Athletic Club this weekend for the presentation of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award on Sunday. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed live. 

As a freshman in 2015, Foecke helped the Huskers to their fourth NCAA National Championship by earning most outstanding player honors. She is aiming to become the first volleyball player to win the AAU Sullivan Award. Former Husker wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs is also among the seven finalists. The only Husker to ever win the award was Rulon Gardner in 2000. Former Husker volleyball standout Kelsey Robinson was a finalist in 2014.

Joining Foecke and Burroughs as finalists for the 86th AAU Sullivan Award are Derrick Henry (Alabama football), Keenan Reynolds (Navy football), Breanna Stewart (UCONN basketball), Brittan Bowe (US Speed Skating) and Simone Biles (USA Gymnastics).

"I'm very excited to be going to New York and be a finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award," Foecke said. "It's such an honor to be included as one of the finalists with all of those prestigious athletes and some of the top names in sports. It's an honor to be well-respected and thought of in that high of a manner. I also wouldn't be in this position without my parents and their hard work and all that they've done for me."

Foecke was one of the most highly touted volleyball recruits coming out of high school and made an immediate impact in 2015 for the Huskers. She led Nebraska to the national title and became just the third freshman to earn 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.

“Being a finalist for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award is a unique privilege for all our finalists,” said Melissa Willis, AAU Sullivan Award National Chair. “Our seven finalists this year embody the extraordinary success and high character athlete this award was created to honor.”

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.

"As one of the largest multi-sport organizations in the nation, this award is really the epitome of what the AAU represents,” said Dr. Roger Goudy, President/CEO of the AAU. "Part of the mission of the AAU is to provide a venue for amateur athletes to promote good sportsmanship and good citizenship. Each of our seven finalists – and the winners that came before them – truly embodies that mission.”