Zimmerman, Hunt, Cross Honored With All-Big Ten Selections
11/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 30, 2010
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Senior setter Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) and junior outside hitter Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) of the University of Michigan volleyball team were both unanimous All-Big Ten selections, while freshman middle blocker Jennifer Cross (Scarborough, Ont./Birchmount Park Collegiate) was named to the all-freshman team, as announced by the conference on Tuesday morning (Nov. 30). In addition, senior defensive specialist Maggie Busch (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Christian) was tabbed as Michigan's sportsmanship honoree.
Zimmerman earns her third consecutive unanimous All-Big Ten selection, becoming the first Wolverine to earn all-conference honors three times in a career. The senior setter is averaging 10.88 assists per set while ranking third in the conference in total assists (1,262). She strung together back-to-back triple-doubles earlier this season, going for 43 assists, 13 kills and 13 digs in a 3-1 win over No. 6 Illinois on Oct. 9 before recording 38 assists, 11 kills and 10 digs in another 3-1 victory over Michigan State on Oct. 13. Zimmerman has 5,873 career assists, ranking sixth all-time in the Big Ten.
 Jennifer Cross |  Alex Hunt |
Hunt picks up All-Big Ten honors for the first time in her career after leading the conference in points (5.04) and kills (4.41). She is the only Big Ten player averaging more than five points per set, using 503 kills, 45 service aces and 46 total blocks for 574.5 points. Hunt has recorded 12 matches with at least 20 kills this season, including a 28-kill performance in a 3-2 win over No. 14 Minnesota on Sept. 25 and becoming just the second player in the conference to record 20 kills in a three-set match when she put down 20 against Indiana on Nov. 22.
Cross was a unanimous pick for the all-freshman team, becoming the third Wolverine on the current team to earn the distinction. She leads the Wolverines in blocks (0.99) and hitting percentage (.317) while ranking second in kills (2.31) and points (336.5). Cross had eight matches with at least 10 kills, including putting down a career-best 16 kills in a win over No. 20 Northwestern on Oct. 17. She was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following that performance, the first Wolverine to earn the honor.
Busch had a breakout senior season, totaling 27 service aces and 246 digs. The Big Ten Sportsmanship award is given to student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Busch is now a candidate for the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
U-M (23-9, 12-8 Big Ten) earned its fifth consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament and will head to Seattle, Wash., to take on No. 11 Washington on Thursday (Dec. 2) at 7:30 p.m. PST. If U-M wins, the Wolverines will take on the winner of the No. 7 Hawai'i-Portland State match on Friday (Dec. 3) at 7:30 p.m. PST with a berth to the Sweet 16 on the line.
All-Big Ten Team*
Michelle Bartsch, ILL
Hillary Haen, ILL
Colleen Ward, ILL
ASHLEY BENSON, IND
LEXI ZIMMERMAN, MICH
ALEX HUNT, MICH
JENILEE RATHJE, MSU
LAUREN GIBBEMEYER, MINN
Jessica Granquist, MINN
SABEL MOFFETT, NU
Katie Dull, OSU
BLAIR BROWN, PSU
ARIELLE WILSON, PSU
Deja McClendon, PSU
JACLYN HART, PUR
* - 15 due to tie
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
Jordan Haverly, IND
Tori Dixon, MINN
Naomi Johnson, NU
Kelli Barhorst, OSU
Alyssa D'Errico, PSU
Alexis Mitchell, WIS
All-Freshman Team
Jennifer Bonilla, ILL
JENNIFER CROSS, MICH
TORI DIXON, MINN
ASHLEY WITTMAN, MINN
Stephanie Holthus, NU
DEJA MCCLENDON, PSU
Catherine Rebarchak, PUR
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
Player of the Year: Blair Brown, PSU
Defensive Player of the Year: Jessica Granquist, MINN
Freshman of the Year: Deja McClendon, PSU
Coach of the Year (Coaches): Russ Rose, PSU
Sportsmanship Honorees:
Nicole Kump, ILL; Taylor Witter, IND; Mallory Husz, IOWA; Maggie Busch, MICH; Jenilee Rathje, MSU; Mia Tabberson, MINN; Elyse Glab, NU; Sara Mignin, OSU; Fatima Balza, PSU; Jaclyn Hart, PUR; Janelle Gabrielsen, WIS.
Contact: Sarah VanMetre (734) 763-4423
