Nebraska senior Kelly Hunter and junior Mikaela Foecke were unanimous selections to the All-Big Ten volleyball team announced Tuesday, and Husker senior Annika Albrecht also was named to the 19-player unit.
Hunter was voted Big Ten setter of the year by the league coaches. The trio helped Nebraska to a share of the Big Ten championship and a No. 5 seed for the NCAA tournament.
Also on Tuesday, NU’s Lauren Stivrins and Jazz Sweet were named to the league’s all-freshman team, and John Cook was voted Big Ten coach of the year for the second straight year.
Hunter, from Papillion-La Vista South, set Nebraska to a national championship in 2015 and Big Ten titles each of the last two years, and was a second-team AVCA All-American in 2016. In her third season as a Husker captain, she averaged 10.7 assists and 2.6 digs per set. Hunter currently ranks No. 3 on the NU all-time chart with 3,891 career assists.
“I feel like that award (setter of the year) could have gone to a handful of players, so I am humbled that the coaches hold me in that regard,” Hunter said. “I am so thankful that I get to play with so many talented hitters that make my job easier every day. Coach Cook has been such a great mentor for me throughout my career, and I also owe a thank you to the all the assistants who have helped me throughout my Husker career.”
Foecke, an outside hitter from West Point, Iowa, leads NU with 3.5 kills per set, and is hitting .391 during the Huskers’ current 13-match win streak. Albrecht, an outside hitter from North Aurora, Illinois, is one of the Huskers’ most versatile weapons with 3.0 kills and 2.8 digs per set, along with 28 service aces.
Nebraska senior middle blocker Briana Holman received All-Big Ten honorable mention and senior defensive specialist Sydney Townsend was NU’s recipient of the Sportsmanship Award for the second time in three years.
Cook has now received conference coach of the year honors for the seventh time during his career. The Huskers were 26-4 overall and 19-1 in the Big Ten during the regular season.
Limited number of NCAA tournament volleyball tickets go on sale Wednesday
A limited number of tickets to this weekend’s NCAA tournament matches at the Devaney Center will go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m.
The tickets, which were returned by the visiting teams, can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. at Huskers.com/tickets or by calling Nebraska Athletics Ticketing & Engagement at 800-8-BIGRED.
Friday’s session begins at 4:30 p.m. with Washington State facing Florida State. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Nebraska and Stony Brook will begin no sooner than 7 p.m., or 30 minutes after the first match.
Saturday’s second-round match will begin at 7 p.m.
Stony Brook at Nebraska
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Devaney Center
