Seven Sooners Garner Academic All-Big 12 Honors

NORMAN, Okla. The Big 12 Conference named 60 student-athletes to the 2005 Academic All-Big 12 Team and seven Oklahoma volleyball players were selected, announced the league office Tuesday.

The Sooners collected the third-most honors in the conference behind Kansas State (eight) and Texas A&M (nine). Five first-team accolades highlighted the group while two other Sooners garnered second-team selections.

Juniors Anna Monsen and Joanna Schmitt, along with sophomores Julie Chester, Anna Stadel and senior Gabriela Tonon were named to the first team. Rachel Jackson and Laura Tomes, also juniors, grabbed second-team honors.

It marked the second straight selection for Jackson, Monsen, Schmitt and Tomes.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the volleyball academic all league team consisted of 52 first team members combined with nine on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

With its seven selections, Oklahoma tied its highest number of honorees since the inception of the Big 12. In 1999, the squad also claimed seven Academic All-Big 12 members.

The Sooners will be back in action this Wednesday, Nov. 16 for a rematch with the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, Iowa. First serve is set for 7 p.m.