STAMFORD, Conn., December 4, 2003 – CoSIDA released today the 2003 Academic All-America Women’s Volleyball Team. Karla Kucerkova (Olomouc, Czech Republic) of American University has been selected as the Academic All-America of the Year in the University Division for the second straight year.
A senior with a 3.98 grade point average as a Business Administration major, Kucerkova leads the Eagles and the Patriot League in kills (5.11 average per game). Additional scholar-athlete accomplishments include Patriot League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2002) and All-Region honoree.
Setter Jill Arganbright (Iowa City,IA) of Northern Iowa is a two-time Academic All-America Team member. She is UNI’s career leader in assists with 5,311 and ranks second all-time in MVC history in assists. Aranbright holds a 3.97 G.P.A. in a double major of Biology and Chemistry. A total of eight volleyball team members for the University Division are repeat Academic All-America’s including Minnesota’s Cassie Busse, Cari Jensen of Kansas State and outside hitter Julie DuPont of Cincinnati.
On the College Division team, eight of the 18 student-athlete’s have 4.00 G.P.A.’s in Accounting, Biology, Kinesiology, and Elementary Education. The overall average G.P.A. for the entire team is 3.93. Middle hitter Melissa Braaksma (Randolph, WI) of Lakeland College is one of three two-time Academic All-America selections for the College Division this year. She is the school’s record holder for career blocks and is the President of Future Corporate Leaders. Academic All-America of the Year for the College Division is outside hitter Nici Workman of Capital University. She is the Crusader’s all-time record holder for career service aces (195), ranks second in school history in matches played (90) and holds a 3.93 G.PA. as an Economics major.
The only junior to make the team is Nazareth’s Tricia Jones (Corning, NY). Jones’, also a double major in Biology and Chemistry, leads the Golden Flyers in kills (354), digs (219), aces (68) andblocks (128) and ranks among the nation’s leaders in hitting percentage with .411.
“The Academic All-America program provides us with a unique opportunity to recognize and highlight the remarkable academic and athletic excellence of today’s students. CoSIDA pays tribute to the phenomenal individuals that strive to be the best they can be on and off the playing field,” said Dick Lipe, Academic All-America Chairperson.
The complete list of student-athletes named to the Academic All-America Women’s Volleyball Team is attached (See Attachment A).
The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Division I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.
For more information about the Academic All-America Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com or email academicallamerica@millsport.com.
2003 Academic All-America Women’s Volleyball Team (University Division)
First Team
NAME SCHOOL POSITION YR. HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Jill Arganbright Northern Iowa Setter Sr. Iowa City, IA 3.97/Biology/Chemistry
Stephanie Ballard College of Charleston Outside Hitter Sr. Muncie, IN 3.97/Corporate Communications
Cassie Busse Minnesota Outside Hitter Sr. Prior Lake, MN 3.81/Family Social Sciences
Cari Jensen Kansas State Outside Hitter Sr. Fowler, CO 3.94/Kinesiology/Pre-Health
Karla Kucerkova* American Outside Hitter Sr. Olomouc, Czech Republic 3.98/Business Mgmt
Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan Pennsylvania Outside Hitter Sr. Wheaton, IL 3.95/Communications
Second Team
NAME SCHOOL POSITION YR. HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Emily Adams USC Middle Blocker Jr. Phoenix, AZ 3.67/International Relations
Delavane Diaz Air Force Outside Hitter Sr. Tampa, FL 3.80/Aeronautical Engineering
Julie DuPont Cincinnati Outside Hitter Jr. Muskego, WI 3.96/Communication Disorders
Lily Kahumoku Hawaii Outside Hitter Sr. Lubbock, TX 3.74/Biology
Molly O’Brien Northern Iowa Middle Blocker Sr. Parnell, IA 3.86/Physical Ed – Teaching
Anna Schrad Nebraska Outside Hitter Sr. Lincoln, NE 3.91/Exercise Science
Third Team
NAME SCHOOL POSITION YR. HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Isabell Anderer Marshall Outside Hitter Jr. Sinsheim, Germany 4.00/Business
Catherine DuPont Rice Outside Hitter Jr. St. Petersburg, FL 4.00/Sports Medicine/Spanish
Kele Eveland Georgia Tech Setter Sr. Grand Rapids, MI 3.76/Management
Erica Gerth Eastern Illinois Outside Hitter Jr. El Paso, IL 4.00/Health Studies
Leslie Kuhn Wisconsin-Green Bay Setter Sr. Juneau, WI 3.97/Communication Processes
Ogonna Nnamani Stanford Outside Hitter Sr. Normal, IL 3.40/Biology
Janelle Tomlinson Wisconsin-Green Bay Outside Hitter Sr. Stratford, WI 3.87/Human Biology
Heather Watts Memphis Setter Jr. Salt Lake City, UT 3.98/Exercise Science
Rebecca Wynalda Texas A&M Def. Specialist Sr. Kennendale, TX 4.00/Finance/Accounting
*Academic All-America of the Year (University Division)
2003 Academic All-America Women’s Volleyball Team (College Division)
First Team
NAME SCHOOL POSITION YR. HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Melissa Braaksma Lakeland (WI) Middle Hitter Sr. Randolph, WI 4.00/Accounting
Trudy Carter Central Missouri Rightside Hitter Sr. Overbrook, KS 4.00/Elementary Education
Lindsay Hinson Wingate (NC) Outside Hitter Sr. Tallahassee, FL 4.00/Biology
Tricia Jones Nazareth (NY) Middle Hitter Jr. Corning, NY 3.97/Biology
Michele Newman Lynn (FL) Outside Hitter Sr. Orlando, FL 4.00/Biology
Nici Workman** Capital (OH) Outside Hitter Sr. Chillicothe, OH 3.94/Economics
Second Team
NAME SCHOOL POSITION YR. HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Andrea Beauvais American Intl (MA) Outside Hitter Sr. Dearborn Heights, MI 3.95/Psychology
Liz Bishop Western Washington Setter Sr. Seattle, WA 3.88/Secondary Education
Kristi Krom Northern Colorado Libero Sr. Stratsburg, CO 4.00/Kinesiology
Stacey Meek Central Oklahoma Setter Sr. Tulsa, OK 3.96/Biology
Jessica Oolman Minnesota State, Mankato Libero Sr. Marshall, MN 4.00/Biology
Nicola Parker Western Washington Libero Sr. Auburn, WA 3.82/Mathematics
Third Team
NAME SCHOOL POSITION YR. HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Kelly Cusack Elmhurst (IL) Middle Hitter Sr. Bridgeview, IL 4.00/Accounting
Stephanie Hartman Greensboro (NC) Setter Sr. Morganton, NC 3.97/Mathematics Education
Tracy Heathcock Texas Lutheran Middle Blocker Sr. San Antonia, TX 3.52/Molecular Biology
Jessica Lakenan Westminster (MO) Outside Hitter Sr. Perryville, MO 4.00/Biology
Katie Smith Pittsburg State (KS) Outside Hitter Sr. Leawood, KS 4.00/Accounting
Melissa Tvrdik Wisconsin, River Falls Outside Hitter Sr. Farwell, MN 3.79/Psychology
**Academic All-America of the Year (College Division)