Sports
Walkoviak named 1st team All American
Published Wednesday, December 03, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Jeri Walkoviak
Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney sophomore hitter Jeri Walkowiak has been named an AVCA first-team All-American.

The AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) All-American team, selected by a panel of head coaches, was released today. The 2008 Division II Player of the Year will be announced tonight at the Elite 8 Banquet in St. Paul, Minn.

Fourteen players were selected to the first, second and third teams. An additional 42 players earned honorable mention recognition, including junior middle hitter Nikki Scott (Broken Bow) and sophomore setter Cola Svec (Elkhorn).

This trio gives the Lopers 14 volleyball All-Americans.

Walkowiak (Grand Island) joins middle hitters Kelli Brummer (1999) and Erin Gudmundson (2004 and 2005) and setter Danielle Shum (1996) as the only UNK players to earn first-team AVCA All-American honors.

The 2008 RMAC Player of the Year, Walkowiak was at 3.27 kills and 0.84 blocks per game while hitting .335. She also averaged 2.36 digs per game over the last 17 matches and was named to the Central Regional all-tournament team after recording 25 kills, 26 digs and nine blocks in two NCAA Tournament matches.

The first-team included two players from top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul and No. 2 ranked Cal State San Bernardino. From the RMAC, outside hitter Jessica Howe (Regis) and Andrea Tuck (Adams State) were selected to the third-team.

The 2008 RMAC Preseason Player of the Year, Scott led the league in hitting percentage (.353) while ranking second on the team in blocks (0.57) and third in kills (2.70). Also named to the Central Regional all-tourney team, Scott had a season-best 20 kills in an NCAA win over Augustana and 17 kills in a 3-2 loss to Concordia-St. Paul.

Svec directed the RMAC’s best offense as the Lopers hit .252 and averaged 13.80 kills per game. Averaging an RMAC-best 10.83 assists per game, Svec also ranked second on the team in digs (2.59) and served up 15 aces.

UNK went 32-4 this year, winning the RMAC regular season title and making a 10th straight NCAA Tournament

© 2008 The Nebraska Rural Radio Association. All rights reserved.
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