Four Huskers Named AVCA All-Americans

Lincoln – Four Nebraska volleyball players were honored Wednesday morning, as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2011 All-America team. Junior outside hitter Gina Mancuso led the charge as a first-team selection, while junior outside hitter Hannah Werth, sophomore right side hitter Morgan Broekhuis and junior setter Lauren Cook were chosen as honorable-mention selections.
 
Nebraska continues to lead the nation with 71 AVCA All-America certificates (first, second and third team) by 35 athletes with at least one Husker earning All-America honors in 30 consecutive seasons. In 12 seasons at Nebraska, Head Coach John Cook has coached his players to 36 All-America honors.
 
A key asset to the Huskers this season, Mancuso did not disappoint in her junior year as she was named an unanimous All-Big Ten First-Team pick and led the Huskers in kills, totaling 407 for an average of 3.60 kills per set. She also notched 2.66 digs per set. Her efforts kept her ranked in the top ten in the Big Ten Conference for total kills during the entire season. She notched at least 10 kills in 27 matches during 2011 and posted a career-high 25 kills against Kansas State. She was also named the Big Ten Player-of-the-Week two times in 2011. Mancuso is the latest in the long line of successful attackers at Nebraska, as a total of 24 All-America certificates have been earned by Husker outside hitters since 1996.
 
Werth earned honorable mention All-America honors after a stellar junior season. The Springfield, Ill., native averaged 2.80 kills per set and 3.11 digs per set, while ranking second on the team in total digs with 348 on the year. Werth tabbed at least 10 kills in 18 matches, while notching at least 10 digs in 19 matches. She produced 11 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 earned honorable-mention All-America honors for the first time, as she had a breakout year for the Huskers during her sophomore campaign, averaging 3.04 kills per set and a total of 344 kills while notching 1.58 digs per set. In just her second year as a starter, she tabbed at least 10 kills in 19 matches and a hitting percentage of .247. She recorded a total of 97 blocks in 2011, while hitting at least .300 in eight matches this season, including a season-best .692 against Jackson State. She tabbed a career-high 22 kills at Michigan on Oct. 1.
 
Cook put together a strong season in her first full year as a starter to earn honorable-mention All-America accolades. She averaged 11.03 assists per set, .49 kills and 2.79 digs per set. She ranked fourth in the league in assists, while notching a team-best 18 double-doubles (assists-digs). Cook helped Nebraska hit .300 or better in 10 matches, including a season-high .438 against Jackson State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. She totaled 50 or more assists in seven matches, including a career-high 62 assists against Kansas State.