No real surprises here. Missouri is the real question mark, with some vball fans picking them to have a breakout year and others not expecting them to do better than 5th in the BigXII. Apparently the coaches feel pretty strong about their chances [or maybe since NU, UT, and A&M couldn't vote for themselves and sure as heck weren't going to vote for each other, they all gave their first place rank to Missouri].
Personally, I'm still skeptical, but there are certainly weaknesses in both our squad and in UT's gameplay that would provide an opening if the Tigers catch fire.
2005 BIG 12 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank Team (First-place Votes) Points
1. Nebraska (10) 100
2. Missouri 88
3. Texas 77
4. Texas A&M 72
5. Kansas 68
6. Kansas State 56
T7. Baylor 43
T7. Colorado 43
9. Oklahoma 24
10. Texas Tech 21
11. Iowa State 13
Dallas -- Defending Big 12 champion Nebraska was selected to win the 2005 volleyball title in the annual preseason polling of the league's head coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The Huskers captured all 10 of the possible first-place votes and 100 points overall, with coaches not being allowed to vote for their own teams.
In 2004, NU finished the season with a perfect league record (20-0) for the fourth time in conference history (2000-02, `04) and 15th overall. The Huskers have earned seven of the nine previous crowns. During the postseason, Nebraska was the last remaining Big 12 representative competing in the NCAA Championships field, advancing to the regional final against two-time national champ Southern California.
Missouri finished second behind NU with 88 points. Texas, Texas A&M and Kansas round out the top five, while Kansas State is sixth with Baylor and Colorado following, tied for seventh. Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Iowa State hold the 9-11 spots, respectively.
Nebraska paced the conference with three All-Big 12 selections while earning two of the three individual honors.
Husker sophomore Sarah Pavan headlines the preseason awards as the Player of the Year. Last season, the Kitchener, Ontario, native became the first freshman in school history to be named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American. She also received the organization's National Freshman of the Year accolade, another first for an NU player. Pavan earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was named all-conference first team after recording 4.54 kills per game and a .322 hitting percentage in all matches. In conference action, Pavan averaged 4.43 kills while maintaining a .339 hitting efficiency. The outside hitter set Husker freshman marks for kills (481) and kills per game, while recording 20-or-more kills seven times. Pavan posted a career-high and NU postseason record 35 in last year's regional final loss to USC -- the fifth-highest single-match total in school history.
Pavan's teammate Jordan Larson was tabbed as the Preseason Freshman of the Year. The 2004 Gatorade Nebraska High School Player of the Year compiled a Class C-1 state record 501 kills on a .490 hitting clip during her senior campaign at Logan View High School. Larson, a three-time all-state first team pick, also contributed 179 aces to lead the squad to the state semifinals. Internationally, she was a member of the United States Junior National Team for two years (2003-04). She led Team USA to the gold medal and claimed the Most Valuable Player and Best Receiver honors at the 2004 NORCECA Championships.
The coaches selected Jennifer Todd (Texas) the Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Todd, a transfer from Washington State, earned All-Pacific 10 honorable mention honors as a sophomore in 2004. The 6-2 middle blocker hit .264 (381 kills on 886 attacks) while averaging 3.66 kills to lead the Cougars. Todd, a Henderson, Nev., native had double-figure kills in 22 of 29 WSU matches. She also tallied a team-high 1.17 blocks per game, which ranked seventh in the conference. Todd's two-year total of 216 block assists ranks ninth on the WSU career list, and her 259 total blocks is tied for ninth best all-time.
Seven of the 11 Big 12 conference teams open the season on Aug. 26. Conference action is slated to begin on Sept. 14.
[This message has been edited by wannaggie (edited 8/11/2005 12:04p).]
Personally, I'm still skeptical, but there are certainly weaknesses in both our squad and in UT's gameplay that would provide an opening if the Tigers catch fire.
2005 BIG 12 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank Team (First-place Votes) Points
1. Nebraska (10) 100
2. Missouri 88
3. Texas 77
4. Texas A&M 72
5. Kansas 68
6. Kansas State 56
T7. Baylor 43
T7. Colorado 43
9. Oklahoma 24
10. Texas Tech 21
11. Iowa State 13
Dallas -- Defending Big 12 champion Nebraska was selected to win the 2005 volleyball title in the annual preseason polling of the league's head coaches, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The Huskers captured all 10 of the possible first-place votes and 100 points overall, with coaches not being allowed to vote for their own teams.
In 2004, NU finished the season with a perfect league record (20-0) for the fourth time in conference history (2000-02, `04) and 15th overall. The Huskers have earned seven of the nine previous crowns. During the postseason, Nebraska was the last remaining Big 12 representative competing in the NCAA Championships field, advancing to the regional final against two-time national champ Southern California.
Missouri finished second behind NU with 88 points. Texas, Texas A&M and Kansas round out the top five, while Kansas State is sixth with Baylor and Colorado following, tied for seventh. Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Iowa State hold the 9-11 spots, respectively.
Nebraska paced the conference with three All-Big 12 selections while earning two of the three individual honors.
Husker sophomore Sarah Pavan headlines the preseason awards as the Player of the Year. Last season, the Kitchener, Ontario, native became the first freshman in school history to be named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American. She also received the organization's National Freshman of the Year accolade, another first for an NU player. Pavan earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was named all-conference first team after recording 4.54 kills per game and a .322 hitting percentage in all matches. In conference action, Pavan averaged 4.43 kills while maintaining a .339 hitting efficiency. The outside hitter set Husker freshman marks for kills (481) and kills per game, while recording 20-or-more kills seven times. Pavan posted a career-high and NU postseason record 35 in last year's regional final loss to USC -- the fifth-highest single-match total in school history.
Pavan's teammate Jordan Larson was tabbed as the Preseason Freshman of the Year. The 2004 Gatorade Nebraska High School Player of the Year compiled a Class C-1 state record 501 kills on a .490 hitting clip during her senior campaign at Logan View High School. Larson, a three-time all-state first team pick, also contributed 179 aces to lead the squad to the state semifinals. Internationally, she was a member of the United States Junior National Team for two years (2003-04). She led Team USA to the gold medal and claimed the Most Valuable Player and Best Receiver honors at the 2004 NORCECA Championships.
The coaches selected Jennifer Todd (Texas) the Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Todd, a transfer from Washington State, earned All-Pacific 10 honorable mention honors as a sophomore in 2004. The 6-2 middle blocker hit .264 (381 kills on 886 attacks) while averaging 3.66 kills to lead the Cougars. Todd, a Henderson, Nev., native had double-figure kills in 22 of 29 WSU matches. She also tallied a team-high 1.17 blocks per game, which ranked seventh in the conference. Todd's two-year total of 216 block assists ranks ninth on the WSU career list, and her 259 total blocks is tied for ninth best all-time.
Seven of the 11 Big 12 conference teams open the season on Aug. 26. Conference action is slated to begin on Sept. 14.
[This message has been edited by wannaggie (edited 8/11/2005 12:04p).]