Bruzdzinski Earns Spot on All-Big Ten Conference Team
11/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Junior outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) became the sixth University of Michigan volleyball player to earn all-conference honors when she was among 14 players selected to the All-Big Ten team, announced by the conference office Tuesday (Nov. 28).
Bruzdzinski
Bruzdzinski is Michigan's first volleyball student-athlete to earn Big Ten All-Freshman team honors and All-Big Ten team honors in her career. Bruzdzinski was tabbed to the all-freshman team in 2004 after setting the U-M record for most kills by a freshman.
Bruzdzinski has powered the Wolverine offense all season long and has become one of the most dominant outside hitters in the Big Ten. She finished the regular season with the most kills (521), aces (48) and points (595.0) in the conference while hitting double digits in kills in 32 of 33 matches on the year. She earned back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Nov. 6 and 13, becoming just the 10th volleyball player in Big Ten history to be named player of the week in back-to-back weeks.
In her junior campaign, Bruzdzinski became the fastest Wolverine to 1,000 career kills, moving up U-M's all-time kills list to reside in third place with 1,284 kills heading into the NCAA Tournament. Bruzdzinski also made a dent in U-M's all-time aces list, climbing to sixth place with 118 aces.
Bruzdzinski's breakout junior season has seen her record 113 more kills, 18 more aces, 32 more digs and a .059 percent up-tick in her hitting percentage heading into the postseason. She helped Michigan secure wins over three top-25 teams with a 24-kill performance against No. 16 Purdue, a 21-kill outing vs. No. 12 Minnesota, and an 18-kill showing vs. No. 20 San Diego.
Michigan's last All-Big Ten team honoree was Lisa Gamalski (2000-04), who earned All-Big Ten honors in her senior campaign in 2004.
Fifth-year senior Erin Penn (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) was named U-M's Sportsmanship Award nominee for the third consecutive season. The nomination is given to a student-athlete on each team who distinguishes herself through sportsmanship, ethical behavior and good citizenship outside of the competition setting. She is now eligible for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to one male and one female athlete from each Big Ten institution at the end of the academic year.
Michigan travels to San Luis Obispo, Calif., to take on No. 14 Cal Poly in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday (Dec. 1) at 8 p.m. PST on the Mustangs' home court in Mott Gymnasium. The winner advances to the second round of the tournament to face either No. 15 Cal or No. 16 LSU on Saturday (Dec. 2) at 7 p.m. PST.
2006 All-Big Ten Conference Honors
Big Ten Player of the Year: Megan Hodge, Penn State
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Malama Peniata, Minnesota
Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Megan Hodge, Penn State
Big Ten Coach of the Year (Coaches): Pete Waite, Wisconsin
Big Ten Coach of the Year (Media): Russ Rose, Penn State
| ALL-BIG TEN TEAM Katie Bruzdzinski, Jr., OH, Michigan (1) Ashley Schatzle, Jr., OH, Michigan State (1) Kelly Bowman, Sr., S, Minnesota (2) MEREDITH NELSON, Sr., MB, Minnesota (2) Malama Peniata, Sr., DS, Minnesota (1) Marisa Main, Sr., S, Ohio State (3) DANIELLE MEYER, Jr., MB, Ohio State (2) NICOLE FAWCETT, So., OH, Penn State (2) Christa Harmotto, So., MH, Penn State (2) MEGAN HODGE, Fr., OH, Penn State (1) Stephanie Lynch, So., MH, Purdue (1) Brittney Dolgner, Fr., OH, Wisconsin (1) Taylor Reineke, Jr., MB, Wisconsin (2) Jackie Simpson, Jr., S, Wisconsin (1) | HONORABLE MENTION Vicki Brown, Jr., MB, Illinois Katie Johnson, Jr., OH, Michigan State Jessy Jones, Jr., MB, Minnesota Melissa Walbridge, Jr., MH, Penn State Samantha Mader, Jr., OH, Purdue ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM Vanessa King, MB, Michigan State Kate Nobilio, LIB, Northwestern Anna Szerszen, OH, Ohio State Alisha Glass, S, Penn State Megan Hodge, OH, Penn State Brittney Dolgner, OH, Wisconsin | |
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections Numbers in parentheses indicate number of career selections | ||
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
