Jennifer Saleaumua Season 2002
#26Honors and Awards<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
- Two-Time AVCA All-American
- Three-Time AVCA All-Central Region
- Four-Time All-Big 12
- Two-Time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2004-2005)
- 2005 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team
- 2005 NCAA Omaha Regional All-Tournament Team
- 2005 USA Volleyball A2 National Team member
- 2005 InfoUSA/Arby’s Players Challenge All-Tournament Team
- 2002 US Bank/Arby’s Classic All-Tournament Team
- Big 12 Player of the Week (Oct. 25, 2004)
Career Wrapup
One of the most versatile players in school history, Jennifer Saleaumua helped redefine the outside hitter position at <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska. A two-time AVCA All-American, she finished her career with 1,247 kills and a school-record 1,568 digs and one of only two players in school history to total both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Saleaumua finished ninth on NU’s career list with 1,247 kills and totaled 40 double-doubles in 131 career matches. As a senior, she averaged 2.33 kills and 3.76 digs per game, leading all Big 12 outside hitters in digs per game. Saleaumua closed out her career in fine fashion with 12 kills on .545 hitting and nine digs in the national championship match against Washington. A four-year starter, she earned All-Big 12 honors in each of her four seasons at NU, and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005. She helped Nebraska lead the nation and set a school record, as opponents hit just .105 against the Huskers.
2005: Outlook
One of three returning All-Americans, Jennifer Saleaumua (pronounced Sal-ee-ah-MOO-uh) could fill several roles for the Huskers this season ? Has spent the first three seasons at outside hitter, but could also split time at libero, a position she has worked extensively at in the spring and with Team USA in the summer ? Possesses excellent all-around skills and could play nearly any position on the floor ? Already holds Nebraska’s career record for digs with 1,132 digs and is 23 kills away from being only the second player in school history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs ? Named the Big 12’s co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, as she averaged 3.74 digs and 3.09 kills per game ? Holds two of the top four single-season dig totals in school history and is averaging 3.58 digs per game during her Husker career ? Has 34 double-doubles in 96 career matches, including 10 last season ? Is on track to become only the second player in school history to earn first-team all-conference honors for four straight years (Greichaly Cepero, 1999-2002) ? Is an emotional leader who will be counted on to play an important leadership role this fall.
“I think Jennifer will be a mutli-role player for us,” Nebraska Head Coach John Cook said. She could be used as a hitter or at libero. That is how USA Volleyball used her over the summer and she responded well and was one of the better performing players.
“Jennifer has accomplished nearly everything in her career and has two things left to do, win a national championship and graduate,” Cook said. “Those are two big goals for her, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
2004: Junior Season
Saleaumua’s all-around abilities keyed the Huskers to a 30-2 record, a Big 12 title and an NCAA Regional finals appearance in 2004 ? Named a second-team AVCA All-American after ranking second on the squad in both kills (3.09) and digs (3.74) ? Honored as the Big 12’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year after holding opponents to a national-best .103 hitting, including .092 hitting in league matches ? Was a first-team All-Big 12 selection for the third straight season ? Ranked eighth in the Big 12 in digs, helping Nebraska lead the league in that category ? Totaled 10 double-doubles on the year, including two in the NCAA Tournament ? Had 15 kills and 22 digs in the regional final loss to No. 8 USC on Dec. 11 ? Led Nebraska’s comeback at No. 10 Texas on Oct. 20, matching her career high with 19 kills on .450 hitting (19-1-40) and 11 digs after the Huskers lost the first two games ? Set season bests in digs (24) and service aces (three) in a win at Baylor on Oct. 23 to earn Big 12 Player-of-the-Week honors ? Produced at least 15 kills in five matches, including 18 kills on .444 hitting at No. 25 Notre Dame on Sept. 4 ? Was fourth on the team with 81 blocks, including a career-high seven stuffs and 12 digs in a sweep of Kansas on Nov. 12.
2003: Sophomore Season
Saleaumua was one of the Big 12’s best all-around players in 2003, garnering first-team all-conference and first-team AVCA All-Regional laurels ? Topped the Huskers in kills per game (3.27), digs per game (3.90) and double-doubles (17), while tying for third in service aces (33) and ranking fifth in total blocks (71) ? Totaled 441 digs, breaking Kate Crnich's mark of 390 set in 1996, while ranking second in the league in digs per game ? Topped NU in digs 15 times and reached double figures 23 times in 32 matches, including a 15-match streak from Oct. 1 to Nov. 19 ? Was at her best against top-25 teams, averaging 4.40 digs per game in 12 matches against ranked foes ? Recorded a career-high 27 digs against Missouri on Oct. 15, the second-highest total in the Big 12 in 2003 ? Paced NU in kills 12 times, including a career-best 19-kill effort at Kansas on .340 hitting ? Hit a season-high .500 with 18 kills (18-1-34) in a nationally televised match against Northern Iowa, one of eight matches where she hit .400 or better.
2002: Freshman Season
Saleaumua quickly adapted to the college ranks, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in her first season at Nebraska ? Ranked among the team leaders in most categories, including first in service aces (30) and third in kills (2.89 digs per game) ? Was 10th in the Big 12 with 3.02 digs per game in league matches, just under her season average of 3.05 digs per game ? Totaled 10-or-more digs in 14 matches, including a season-high 20 against Santa Clara ? Recorded at least 10 kills in 13 matches, highlighted by a stretch of four straight matches when she broke or tied her career high in kills ? Hit .295 on the season while hitting .400 or better in 10 matches, including a 10-kill effort on 19 swings against Kansas State on Nov. 30 ? Hit a season-high .562 against Pepperdine Sept. 6, producing 10 kills and erring just once on 16 attacks ? Recorded six of her seven double-doubles in league matches. including a 13-kill, 14-dig effort at Texas on Nov. 9.
High School
Saleaumua enjoyed an impressive high school career at Bonita Vista High School for Coach Carolyn Taeatafa-Hudson ? Named Volleyball Magazine’s National High School Player of the Year in 2000 after guiding Bonita Vista to a 43-0 record, the 2000 CIF state championships and a No. 1 national ranking ? Set a CIF record for single-match kills with 57 in the state championship match ? Selected as the San Diego Union-Tribune Co-Female Athlete of the Year, the California Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year, the California Gatorade Player of the Year, the Paul Mitchell All-American Player of the Year and the Metro League MVP as a senior ? Competed for the Coast Volleyball club, winning the USVBA silver medal in the 17-and-under division in 1999 and the bronze medal in the 17 open division the following year ? Also played three seasons of basketball at Bonita Vista ? Comes from impressive bloodlines, as her uncle is former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Dan Saleaumua ? Originally signed a letter-of-intent with Hawaii for the 2001 season, but never enrolled in school ? Contacted the NU coaches during the fall of 2001 about the possibility of joining the Huskers and enrolled at Nebraska in January of 2002.