November 30, 2003
Texas A&M middle blocker/outside hitter Melissa Munsch was named to All-Big 12 first team, and outside hitter Laura Jones received all-Big 12 honorable mention, the conference office announced today.
Munsch, who is making her second consecutive appearance on the all-Big 12 first team, led the Aggie starters in hitting percentage (.305) and average kills (3.64), aces (0.39) and points (4.45) per game in conference action as A&M tied Colorado and Kansas for third place in the Big 12 with a 13-7 mark. She posted two aces in A&M's 3-0 win over Iowa State in the regular-season finale to set an A&M season record with 30 aces in Big 12 matches.
Munsch recorded the first two triple-doubles of her career and the Aggies' only two of the season, posting double figures in kills, digs and blocks against both Southwest Missouri State and Texas Tech. The 6-2 junior also leads the Aggies with 16 double-double performances and has led the squad in points in a team-high 14 matches.
Earlier this season, the Columbus, Texas, native was named Big 12 Player of the Week and also was named to the all-tournament teams at the season-opening Duke Invitational and at the Michigan Pepsi Challenge.
Jones, who was the 2002 Big 12 Freshman of the year, is the only A&M player to start every match this season and leads the Aggies with 3.75 kills per game for the full season. In addition, she ranks second with 2.93 digs and 4.30 points per game in all games and was second on the team in kills (3.32) and points (3.87) per game in Big 12 matches only.
The sophomore from Arlington, Texas, has posted 20 or more kills in a team-high five matches and recorded A&M's only 20-kill, 20-dig performance of the season with career highs of 29 kills and 23 digs in a five game victory over Southwest Missouri State.
Jones was named to the all-tournament team in every tournament A&M participated in this season and garnered MVP honors at the Duke Invitational.
Kansas State's Lauren Goehring was named Player of the Year, and head coach Suzie Fritz was chosen Coach of the Year after the Wildcats claimed their first Big 12 championship. Valeria Hejjas and Lauren Downey Wallace, also of Kansas State, were voted Newcomer of the Year and Libero of the Year, respectively. Missouri's Jessica VanderKooi claimed Newcomer of the Year laurels, and the Tigers' Juliana Godoi was named Defensive Specialist of the Year.
The following is the complete 2003 all-Big 12 Conference Volleyball Team:
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Lauren Goehring, Kansas State MB 6-0 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas
Melissa Elmer, Nebraska MB 6-2 So. Fort Wayne, Ind.
Melissa Munsch, Texas A&M OH/MB 6-1 Jr. Columbus, Texas
Gabby Guerre, Kansas State S 6-1 Jr. Houston, Texas
Josiane Lima, Kansas MB 6-0 So. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Jennifer Saleaumua, Nebraska OH 5-11 So. National City, Calif.
Monique Gerlach, Colorado MB 5-11 Sr. Monarch Beach, Calif.
Valeria Hejjas, Kansas State OH 5-11 Jr. Kecskemet, Hungary
Lindsey Hunter, Missouri S 5-10 So. Papillion, Neb.
Bethany Howden, Texas OH/MB 6-2 Jr. Austin, Texas
Mira Topic, Texas OH 6-3 Jr. Kastela Kambelovac, Croatia
Shen Danru, Missouri OH 5-11 So. Shanghai, China
HONORABLE MENTION
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Laura Downey-Wallace, Kansas State L 5-9 Sr. LaMesa, Calif.
Laura Jones, Texas A&M OH 6-2 So. Arlington, Texas
Lisa Martin, Kansas State MB 6-0 Jr. Hutchinson, Kan.
Kelly Johnson, Texas Tech OH 5-10 Jr. Fort Worth, Texas
Tisha Schwartz, Baylor OH/MB 6-3 Sr. Amarillo, Texas
Ashley Michaels, Kansas MB 6-1 Jr. Wathena, Kan.
Coach of the Year: Suzie Fritz, Kansas State
Players of the Year: Lauren Goehring, Kansas State
Newcomer of the Year: Valeria Hejjas, Kansas State
Freshman of the Year: Jessica Vander Kooi, Missouri
Defensive Specialist of the Year: Juliana Godoi, Missouri, Sr, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Libero of the Year: Laura Downey-Wallace, Kansas State