Nov. 27, 2006

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IRVING, Texas -- For the second straight year Sarah Pavan (Nebraska) has been named Big 12 Player of the Year, while Santiago Restrepo (Oklahoma) has received Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career, highlighting the 2006 Big 12 Volleyball Awards. Rachel Holloway (Nebraska) and Ashley Engle (Texas) were tabbed Big 12 Newcomer and Freshman of the Year, respectively. Erin Boeve (Iowa State), Jordan Larson (Nebraska) and Eliane Santos (Oklahoma) were selected as Defensive Players of the Year, while Dani Busboom (Nebraska) and Anna Monsen (Oklahoma) share the Libero of the Year honor.

The All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Pavan, a three-time All-Big 12 First Team member, led nationally top-ranked Nebraska (19-1 Big 12; 27-1 overall) to its ninth Big 12 title in 2006. The Kitchener, Ontario native paced the league in kills (5.15) and points (6.11) per game in conference action and also was fourth in service aces (0.36) per contest. The Huskers finished the conference season first in hitting percentage and kills while leading the nation in kills per game (17.53). She becomes the first player in Big 12 history to win consecutive Player of the Year awards, and joins fellow Huskers Nancy Metcalf (1999, `01) and Greichaly Cepero (2000, `02) as two-time recipients.

Restrepo's squad recorded its best Big 12 mark in school history (17-3) for a second-place finish. The Sooners also posted their highest winning percentage (.839), after compiling a 26-5 overall record in `06. It marked the first 20-win season for Oklahoma since 1997 when the Sooners compiled a 20-13 overall mark. Restrepo led OU to the best one-year turnaround in Big 12 history with 15 more conference victories than last season. The Sooners, currently ranked No. 13 in the AVCA Coaches Poll, earned a national ranking for the first time in 18 years while tying its highest-ranking ever last week. Restrepo and the Sooners will make only the fourth trip in school history to the NCAA Championship, riding a six-match win streak.

Holloway directed the NU offense to the best hitting percentage and most kills per game in Big 12 matches during her first season as setter for the Huskers. She also was instrumental in the squad's league-leading 16.33 assists per game. Individually, Holloway averaged 13.59 assists, ranking third in conference play and the highest-rated rookie in the category. She currently is 11th on the national assists charts, leading all freshmen. Holloway contributed 2.64 digs and 1.16 kills per game in addition to a .317 hitting clip for the Huskers'. She was tabbed Big 12 Player of the Week on Oct. 16.

Engle, the third Longhorn to earn Big 12 Freshman of the Year, averaged 4.99 points, 4.28 kills and 2.85 digs during the conference race. The Yorba Linda, Calif. native's points total ranked fourth in conference matches, while she was fifth with her kill total. Engle is the only freshman ranked in both categories. The Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year was named conference player of the week and Collegiate Volleyball Update National Player of the Week on Nov. 6.

Boeve, Larson and Santos are the first three players in Big 12 history to share the Defensive Player of the Year honor. Each of the student-athletes was tabbed conference player of the week this season, while Boeve also earned Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week. The junior middle blocker averaged 1.59 blocks and ranked third in the conference-only block category. Boeve finished the regular season on top of the overall block list with a 1.61 average. Larson receives the second postseason award of her career in as many seasons. The Husker sophomore tallied 3.27 digs in league action and 3.40 overall. Santos posted 1.61 blocks per game, which ranked second on the blocking charts in Big 12 play. In all matches, the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil senior middle blocker compiled 1.54 bpg.

Busboom and Monsen become the first co-recipients of the Libero of the Year accolade. The duo ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the digs category in the conference-only statistics. Busboom is the overall and conference leader in digs, averaging 5.00 in Big 12 matches and 5.05 in all matches. Monsen tallied 4.82 digs per game (second) against conference opponents and 4.67 overall (third).

Nebraska and Oklahoma both posted a league-leading four All-Big 12 selections each. In addition to Pavan; Ashley Nu'u (Colorado), Jessica Vander Kooi (Missouri) and Michelle Moriarty (Texas) are receiving the third all-conference honor of their careers. Boeve, Larson, Desiree Guilliard-Young (Baylor) and Nicole Wilson (Missouri) become two-time All-Big 12 honorees.

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM

ALL-BIG 12 HONORABLE MENTION

Please Note: A tie occurred in voting, so there are seven All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recipients.