November 25, 2001
Texas A&M's Michelle Cole and Jenna Moscovic were named to the 13-member All-Big 12 Conference Volleyball first team, the league office announced Sunday.
Cole, a senior outside hitter making her first appearance on the all-conference team, finished the regular season leading the Big 12 with 4.31 digs per game, including a league-best 4.38 average in conference matches only. The Temecula, Calif., native also hit at a personal-record .254 clip and averaged 2.94 kills per game through the regular season.
Cole has posted a team-leading 14 double-doubles and, in the final match of the regular season, she recorded 12 kills to reach 1,001 for her career and become only the sixth player in A&M history to registered both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. Her match-high 17 digs in the season finale victory against Texas Tech also gave her a school record 311 digs in conference matches only, breaking the previous season record of 304 held by Stacy Sykora (1998) and Erin Lechler (2000).
Moscovic is no stranger to the all-Big 12 team as she is making her third consecutive appearance on the first team after garnering Freshman of the Year laurels in 1998. The senior setter from Stockton, Calif., is averaging 13.00 assists per game this season and leads the Aggies with a .349 hitting percentage. In addition, Moscovic leads the nation with five triple-doubles and has directed the Aggies' balanced attack to a No. 1 nationally ranking in both assists and kills per game throughout much of the season.
In Big 12 matches only, Moscovic led the A&M starters with a .332 hitting percentage and 12.96 assists per game. She was third in digs (2.74) and blocks (0.85) per game.
The No. 15 Aggies, 23-5 overall, finished second in the Big 12 with a 16-4 mark, tying the 1999 A&M team for both the highest finish and the best record in Big 12 history. They now await Monday's announcement of the NCAA tournament bracket as A&M is expected to receive its ninth consecutive at-large berth to the postseason event.
The following is the complete All-Big 12 Conference Team:
FIRST TEAM
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Nancy Metcalf, Nebraska RS 6-1 Sr. Hull, Iowa
Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska S 6-2 Jr. Dorado, Puerto Rico
Jenna Moscovic, Texas A&M S 5-11 Sr. Stockton, Calif.
Amber Holmquist, Nebraska MB 6-4 Jr. Houston, Texas
Jenny Kropp, Nebraska MB 6-2 Sr. Grand Island, Neb.
Stevie Nicholas, Baylor OH 5-10 So. Fullerton, Calif.
Michelle Cole, Texas A&M OH 6-0 Sr. Temecula, Calif.
Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska OH 6-0 So. Columbus, Neb.
Elizabeth Gower, Colorado S 6-0 Jr. Naperville, Ill.
Mira Topic, Texas OH 6-2 Fr. Kambelovac, Croatia
Meghan Barkman, Colorado MB 6-2 Jr. Glen Ellyn, Ill.
*Lisa Mimick, Kansas State OH 5-11 Sr. Spencer, Neb.
*Liz Wegner, Kansas State OH 5-10 Sr. Grand Island, Neb.
* - Denotes that a tie occurred in the voting.
HONORABLE MENTION
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Bethany Howden, Texas MB 6-2 Fr. Austin, Texas
Christi Myers, Missouri MB 6-1 Jr. Raytown, Mo.
Lisa Morris, Missouri OH 6-0 Jr. Overland Park, Kan.
Melissa McGehee, Texas Tech OH 5-10 Jr. Kerrville, Texas
Monique Gerlach, Colorado MB 5-11 So. Monarch Beach, Calif.
*Dana Chuha, Baylor S 5-11 Sr. Yorba Linda, Calif.
*Molly LaMere, Kansas S 5-7 Sr. Papillion, Neb.
* - Denotes that a tie occurred in the voting.
(Others receiving votes: Lauren Goehring - Kansas State; Gabby Guerre - Kansas State; Erin Lechler - Texas A&M; Brandi Mount - Texas A&M; Skydra Orzen - Texas Tech)
Coach of the Year: John Cook, Nebraska
Player of the Year: Nancy Metcalf, Nebraska
Newcomer of the Year: Kelly Johnson, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year: Mira Topic, Texas
Defensive Specialist of the Year: Katie Sowers, Missouri