Dec. 2, 2002
WACO, Texas - Baylor junior outside hitter Tisha Schwartz earned honorable mention all-Big 12 Conference honors, the conference office announced Monday. Schwartz becomes the fourth Baylor volleyball player to earn all-conference honors since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Schwartz moved to the outside hitter position in late September to fill the void of injured Stevie Nicholas. Schwartz, who had never played on the outside until this season, responded with 5.31 kills, 2.69 digs and 5.85 points per game. She finished the season with 496 kills, seventh in school history, for an average of 4.69 per game, sixth all-time at Baylor.
Schwartz also had several individual match accomplishments. She became the sixth member of Baylor's 30-kill club with 32 kills Oct. 5 at Iowa State; that total tied for the second-highest four-game kill total in school history. Even before moving to the outside, Schwartz was enjoying a fine season at her natural middle blocker position. In a Sept. 14 match against Utah State, she tallied 23 kills, seven digs, four blocks and 27.5 points with an attacking percentage of .500.
Schwartz reached double-figures in kills in 27 of 31 matches this season with nine 20-kill matches, third in school history. She also had eight double-doubles and contributed at least 10.0 points in every match.
Nebraska, which claimed its fourth consecutive Big 12 title and extended its conference winning streak to 70 matches, led all teams with four first-team honorees. Amber Holmquist, Laura Pilakowski and Greichaly Cepero were named tri-players of the year. Fellow Husker Jennifer Saleaumua joined that trio on the first team.
Lauren Goehring (Kansas State), Christy Myers (Missouri), Mira Topic (Texas), Laura Jones (Texas A&M), Monique Gerlach (Colorado), Kelly Johnson (Texas Tech), Josiane Lima (Kansas), Bethany Howden (Texas), Cari Jensen (Kansas State), Melissa Munsch (Texas A&M), Gabby Guerre (Kansas State) and Kathy Hahn (Texas) rounded out the first team. Schwartz joined Lindsey Hunter (Missouri), Mary Lauren Smith (Missouri), Shen Danru (Missouri), Laura Downey-Wallace (Kansas State) and Ashley Michaels (Kansas) on the honorable mention squad.
Kansas State's Susie Fritz earned coach of the year honors, and Texas A&M's Jones was selected as freshman of the year. Jennifer Kraft of Kansas was named defensive specialist of the year, and K-State's Downey-Wallace claimed the first libero of the year honor.
With Schwartz being selected, Baylor has now had at least one all-conference performer in each of the past five seasons. Schwartz joins Elisha Polk (1998, 1999), Kia Young (1999), Stevie Nicholas (2000, 2001) and Dana Chuha (2001) as the only Bears to earn all-Big 12 honors. Five Baylor athletes received all-Southwest Conference honors with Jana Ranly and Cory Sivertson being so honored three times each.
