Five Huskers Earn All-Big Ten Honors

Lincoln – Five Nebraska volleyball players were honored Tuesday, as the 2011 All-Big Ten team was announced. Nebraska and Penn State had a league-best three first-team honorees apiece, as Lauren Cook, Gina Mancuso and Hannah Werth claimed first-team selections, while Morgan Broekhuis and Brooke Delano received honorable-mention accolades. In addition, Brigette Root was selected as a Sportsmanship Award honoree.

It was Werth and Delano’s second straight All-Conference honor, while the other three Huskers were recognized for the first time in their careers.

Mancuso earned a unanimous All-Big Ten award by averaging 3.54 kills and 2.67 digs per set, while ranking ninth in the Big Ten in kills. Mancuso has notched at least 10 kills in 23 matches this season, while posting a career-high of 24 kills against Colorado State.  She hit .300 or better in eight of her 20 Big Ten contests. She was also named the Big Ten Player-of-the-Week two times in 2011.

Lauren Cook put together a strong season in her first full year as a starter. She averaged 10.94 assists, .48 kills and 2.76 digs per set. She ranked fourth in the league in assists while notching a team-best 16 double-doubles (assists-digs). Cook helped Nebraska hit .300 or better in nine matches, including a season-high .413 against Albany on Sept. 3. She totaled 50 or more assists in six matches, including a season-high 54 in a 3-1 win over then-No. 1 Illinois on Oct. 22.

Werth has had an outstanding junior season, with 2.83 kills per set and 3.07 digs per set. She ranks second on the team in total digs with 319 on the season. She tabbed at least 10 kills in 17 matches, while notching at least 10 digs in 17 matches. Werth has produced 10 double-doubles as a junior and was a two-time Big Ten Player-of-the-Week as well as the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week on Nov. 22.

Broekhuis was the only sophomore selected for honorable mention, as she averaged 3.06 kills and 1.64 digs per set in her second year as a starter. She owns six double-doubles on the year and has a hitting percentage of .246. She has recorded a total of 93 blocks in 2011, while hitting at least .300 in seven matches this season, including a season-best .545 at Michigan State. She tabbed a career-high 22 kills at Michigan on Oct. 1.

Delano capped her senior season with the third-straight All-Conference honors of her career, being named an honorable mention selection. With an average of 1.73 kills per set and a hitting percentage of .306, Delano has continued her impressive string of success in her final season. She has ranked in the top 10 for hitting percentage in the conference throughout the entire season, most recently checking in at eighth. She also ranks fifth in hitting percentage in league play with a mark of .306.

The Big Ten also recognized 12 Sportsmanship Award honorees as student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Root received the honor for her contributions this season. She made her first career start against Michigan State on Nov. 5 and notched the first double-double of her career, with 25 assists and 11 digs.

The Huskers open the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 1, when they face Jackson State at the NU Coliseum. The match is set to start at 7 p.m., or 30 minutes after the 4:30 p.m. match between Wichita State and Kansas State. The first-round winners will then meet on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.

ALL-BIG TEN*

Michelle Bartsch, Sr., OH, ILL

COLLEEN WARD, SR., OH, ILL

JENILEE RATHJE, SR., OH, MSU

Tori Dixon, So., MB, MINN

ASHLEY WITTMAN, SO., OH, MINN

Lauren Cook, Jr., S, NEB

GINA MANCUSO, JR., OH, NEB

Hannah Werth, Jr., OH, NEB

Stephanie Holthus, So., OH, NU

Mari Hole, Jr., OH, OSU

Deja McClendon, So., OH, PSU

ARIEL SCOTT, SO., RS, PSU

Katie Slay, So., MB, PSU

TIFFANY FISHER, SR., MB, PUR

ARIEL TURNER, JR., OH, PUR

 

Honorable Mention

Alex Hunt, Sr., OH, MICH

Kyndra Abron, Sr., OH, MSU

Morgan Broekhuis, So., RS, NEB

Brooke Delano, Sr., MB, NEB

Emily Danks, Jr., RS, OSU

Alexis Mitchell, Jr., MH, WIS

 

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

Liz McMahon, OPP, ILL

Lexi Dannemiller, S, MICH

Katie Dutchman, MB, NU

MICHA HANCOCK, S, PSU

Kierra Jones, MB, PUR

Ellen Chapman, OH, WIS

Courtney Thomas, S/OH, WIS

 

* Additional honorees due to a tie

Unanimous selections in CAPS

 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ariel Turner, PUR

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Katie Slay, PSU

                                   

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Micha Hancock, PSU

 

COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)

Dave Shondell, PUR

 

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD HONOREES

Rachel Feldman, ILL
Lindsay Enterline, IND
Mallory Husz, IOWA
Sloane Donhoff, MICH
Jenilee Rathje, MSU

Mia Tabberson, MINN

Brigette Root, NEB

Madalyn Shalter, NU

Kelli Barhorst, OSU

Maggie Harding, PSU

Emily Ehlers, PUR

Caroline Workman, WIS