August 09, 2004
Texas A&M volleyball team is picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Conference, and Aggie outside hitter/middle blocker Melissa Munsch was selected to the six-member All-Big 12 Preseason Team, according to a vote of the conference head coaches and announced today by the league office.
Muncsh, a two-time All-Big 12 first team selection, earned All-America second-team honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association last season after leading the Aggies to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, a 23-10 overall record and a No. 16 ranking in the final poll. The 6-1 senior from Columbus, Texas, led the Aggies with 4.65 points per game and was second among starters with a .291 hitting percentage and 3.69 kills, 2.98 digs and 1.06 blocks per game.
Six-time league champion Nebraska is an unanimous choice as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 title. Defending conference champion Kansas State received 80 points and is picked to finish second, followed by Texas with 75 points. 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.
The Aggies, who return three starters from the 2003 team that went 13-7 in conference and tied Colorado and Kansas for third, is picked to finish fourth with 66 points. Missouri is fifth with 55 points, followed by Kansas with 50 points.
Baylor and Texas Tech are tied for eighth with 27 points. Iowa State and Oklahoma round out the standings with 26 and 20 points, respectively.
Nebraska all-American middle blocker Melissa Elmer is the Big 12 preseason Player of the Year. Kansas outside hitter Paula Caten, a 6-3 junior college transfer from Barton County Community College, was selected preseason Newcomer of the Year. Setter/outside hitter Emily Brown of Kansas and middle blocker Sara Paven of Nebraska tied for preseason Freshman of the Year honors.
Elmer joins Munsch on the all-Big 12 preseason team, along with Kansas middle blocker Josi Lima, setters Gabby Guerre and Lindsay Hunter of Kansas State and Missouri, respectively, and middle blocker/outside hitter Bethany Howden of Texas.
The Aggies report Wednesday evening and begin two-a-day workouts on Friday. A&M opens the season against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2 at the three-day, seven-team McDonald's/Texas A&M Invitational at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
The following is the complete 2003 Big 12 preseason poll and preseason team:
2004 Big 12 Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Nebraska 100
2. Kansas State 80
3. Texas 75
4. Texas A&M 66
5. Missouri 64
6. Colorado 55
7. Kansas 50
8. Baylor 27
8. Texas Tech 27
10. Iowa State 26
11. Oklahoma 20
Big 12 Conference Preseason Team
Josiane Lima, Kansas MB 6-0 Jr. Sao Paulo, Brazil (Univ. of Sant'anna)
Melissa Munsch, Texas A&M OH/MB 6-1 Sr. Columbus, Texas (Columbus)
Melissa Elmer, Nebraska MB 6-2 Jr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (Northrop)
Gabby Guerre, Kansas State S 6-1 Sr. Houston, Texas (Mayde Creek)
Lindsay Hunter, Missouri S 5-10 Jr. Papillion, Neb. (Papillion La Vista)
Bethany Howden, Texas MB/OH 6-2 Sr. Austin, Texas (Westlake)
Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Melissa Elmer, Nebraska MB 6-2 Jr. Fort Wayne, Ind. (Northrop)
Big 12 Conference Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Paula Caten, Kansas OH 6-3 Jr. Canarana, Brazil (Barton County CC)
Big 12 Conference Preseason Co-Freshmen of the Year
Emily Brown, Kansas S/OH 6-2 Fr. Baldwin City, Kan. (Baldwin)
Sara Paven, Nebraska MB 6-1 Fr. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (Forest Heights Collegiate Institute)
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Texas A&M University
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