Nicholas Named Big 12 Volleyball Freshman Of The Year
11/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 26, 2000
WACO, Texas - Baylor freshman outside hitter Stevie Nicholas received recognition Sunday for one of the finest seasons in the 23-season history of the school's volleyball program. Nicholas was named first-team all-conference and Freshman of the Year by the Big 12 Conference, announced by the league office.
A native of Fullerton, Calif., Nicholas led the Big 12 in kills with 5.68 per game. That mark shattered the previous school record of 5.21 per game established by Elisha Polk in 1998. Nicholas, the only freshman to earn all-conference honors, also came just seven kills shy of Polk's 1998 school record for kills in a season of 620. Her total of 613 ranks third in Baylor history and is a Big 12 freshman record.
In all, 21 athletes were selected to the all-conference team. No. 1 Nebraska led the way with five selections, four to the first team and one to the honorable mention team. Husker setter Greichaly Cepero was named Player of the Year.
First-year Missouri head coach Susan Kreklow was named Coach of the Year. The Tigers went 24-6 this year and tied for second place in the conference with a 14-6 mark after going 10-21 in 1999. Tara Pulaski of Texas A&M was named Newcomer of the Year, and Heather Hughes-Justice of Texas Tech was named Defensive Specialist of the Year.
Nicholas burst on the collegiate volleyball scene with a 16 kills and a .433 attacking percentage in her first career match. Since then, she has racked up six Baylor records and 13 school freshman records. Nicholas produced more than 31 percent of Baylor's kills this season and has been ranked in the national top 10 for kills all season. She also became the first Baylor freshman to earn Big 12 Volleyball Athlete of the Week in mid-September.
2000 Big 12 Volleyball All-Conference TeamFIRST TEAM Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska OH 6-0 So. Columbus, Neb. Amber Holmquist, Nebraska MB 6-4 So. Houston, Texas Liz Wegner, Kansas State OH 5-10 Jr. Grand Island, Neb. Jenny Kropp, Nebraska MB 6-2 Jr. Grand Island, Neb. Jenna Moscovic, Texas A&M S 5-11 Jr. Stockton, Calif. Erin Gibson, Texas A&M OH 5-11 Jr. Houston, Texas Colleen Smith, Texas Tech MB/OH 6-7 Sr. Albuquerque, N.M. Kelle Branting, Kansas State MB 6-1 Sr. North Platte, Neb. Stevie Nicholas, Baylor OH 5-10 Fr. Fullerton, Calif. Elizabeth Gower, Colorado S 6-0 So. Naperville, Ill. Lisa Morris, Missouri OH 6-0 So. Overland Park, Kan. Melissa McGehee, Texas Tech S/OH 5-10 So. Kerrville, Texas
HONORABLE MENTION Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown Heather Gerber, Missouri S 5-9 Sr. Colorado Springs, Colo. Heather Marshall, Texas A&M MB 6-0 Sr. Carrollton, Texas Angie Oxley, Nebraska RS 6-0 Sr. Ogallala, Neb. Disney Bronnenberg, Kansas St. S 5-9 Jr. Heltonville, Ind. Christi Myers, Missouri MB 6-0 So. Raytown, Mo. Meghan Barkman, Colorado MB 6-2 So. Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Others receiving votes: Dana Chuha - Baylor, Sonja Nielsen - Colorado, Stacy Knicks - Iowa State, Amy Myatt, Danielle Geronymo - Kansas, Cathy Cook - Oklahoma, Kathy Hahn and Amy Hultgren - Texas, Janelle Jones, Skydra Orzen - Texas Tech.
Coach of the Year: Susan Kreklow, Missouri
Player of the Year: Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska
Newcomer of the Year: Tara Pulaski, Texas A&M
Freshman of the Year: Stevie Nicholas, Baylor
Defensive Specialist of the Year: Heather Hughes-Justice, Texas Tech
