August 15, 2000
Texas A&M junior setter Jenna Moscovic (Stockton, Calif.) has been chosen a preseason Big 12 Co-Player of the Year, and the Aggies are picked to finish second in the conference according to a vote by the league volleyball head coaches released Tuesday by the conference office.
Moscovic, a member of the 1999 all-Big 12 team and the league's Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 1998, tied Nebraska sophomore setter Geichaly Cepero, the 1999 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, for top player honors.
"This recognition is very appropriate given that Jenna plays such a large role on our team, not only as a setter, but as a leader on the court," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "She works very hard on the court, in the weight room, on the track and in the classroom. She is a very complete player.
"She has improved so quickly over these last two years with Nicole's (Lantagne, A&M assistant coach) coaching and intensity. A lot of it is because Jenna is such a physical and athletic setter. In addition to her setting, she can block and play defense and she is an offensive threat, and that just adds to how dangerous she is at the net. It is a huge advantage for us. Plus she has a great court presence. You can definitely tell that she loves to be out on the court."
Two-time defending Big 12 champion Nebraska is the preseason favorite to win the conference title. The Huskers received nine of the possible 11 first- place votes. The polling was based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system with a first-place vote receiving 10 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
A&M is picked to repeat as runner-up despite losing four starters from last year's squad that placed an all-time high second in the league with a 16-4 record.
"We have a certain amount of maturity with so many returners who have been in the gym playing against the four seniors who led the team last year," Corbelli said. "We are still regarded as a very athletic team and a great defensive team that gets better and better as the season goes on. We typically finish strong, and hopefully that will happen again this year."
Texas, the league champion in 1997, is picked to finish third, followed by Kansas State and Baylor. Colorado, who has led the conference in team kills and assists for the last four season, is predicted to finish sixth. Texas Tech, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa State round out the standings.
Colorado middle blocker Sara Frederickson, a sophomore transfer from UC Santa Barbara, and Texas outside hitter Katia Lara, a transfer from Barton Community College, tied for preseason Newcomer of the Year honors, and Nebraska outside hitter Anna Schrad was chosen the preseason Freshman of the Year.
The Aggies begin the season Sept 1 at No. 5 Hawaii in the Hawaiian Airline Wahine Volleyball Classic. A&M begins conference play Sept. 13 at Missouri.
The following are the complete results of the Big 12 coaches' preseason poll:
Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll
Nebraska (98)
Texas A&M (86)
Texas (82)
Kansas State (77)
Baylor (65)
Colorado (56)
Texas Tech (46)
Kansas (34)
Missouri (25)
Oklahoma (21)
Iowa State (15)
2000 BIG 12 CONFERENCE PRESEASON TEAM
Name School Pos. Ht. Cl-Exp Hometown (High School/College)
*Disney Bronnenberg Kansas St. S 5-9 Jr-2L Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington North)
Liz Wegner Kansas St. OH 5-10 Jr-2L Grand Island, Neb. (Grand Island)
Greichaly Cipero Nebraska S 6-2 So-1L Dorado, Puerto Rico (McDonough)
Amber Holmquist Nebraska MB 6-4 So-1L Houston, Texas (Alief Hastings)
*Cathy Cook Oklahoma MB 6-2 Sr-1L Irvine, Calif. (High)
Kathy Tilson Texas OH 6-0 Jr-2L Austin, Texas (Westlake)
Jenna Moscovic Texas A&M S 5-11 Jr-2L Stockton, Calif. (St. Mary's)
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
*Greichaly Cipero Nebraska S 6-2 So-1L Dorado, Puerto Rico (McDonough)
*Jenna Moscovic Texas A&M S 5-11 Jr-2L Stockton, Calif. (St. Mary's)
NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR
*Sara Frederickson Colorado MB 6-2 So-TR Pagosa Springs, Colo. (High/UCSB)
*Kaita Lara Texas OH 6-1 Jr-TR Sao Paulo, Brazil (E.E.P.G. Javelino deOliveria/Barton CC)
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Anna Schrad Nebraska OH 6-2 Fr-HS Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)
* Ties occurred in voting.