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Nov. 17, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--A pair of University of Cincinnati volleyball players have been named to the 2005 All-BIG EAST teams, announced Thursday night (Nov. 17) by conference officials. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Jessie Nevitt was named to the league's first team, as well as earning Rookie of the Year honors. Senior outside hitter Maria Pongonis, a member of the preseason all-league team, was tabbed as a second-team all-conference player.
Nevitt (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain) ranks among the BIG EAST leaders and is tops on the Bearcats with a .338 hitting percentage and 1.36 blocks per game. She also ranks third on the team with 3.14 kills per game. This year, Nevitt was awarded the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week award five times, the most by a conference player since 2000. In addition to setting two school blocks records, Nevitt has also recorded two of the top-five hitting performances in school history this year. Her selection of the Rookie of the Year keeps alive a strong tradition of excellent freshman for UC, as six Bearcats have been selected conference rookie or freshman of the year since 1994.
Pongonis (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) has been the Bearcats' offensive leader this season, averaging a team-high 3.68 kills per game, including a high of 19 three times. On defense, Pongonis ranks second on the Bearcats and 10th in the BIG EAST with 3.45 digs per game, setting a personal-best with 23 vs. Connecticut. The senior has also added a team-high 20 double-doubles.
Louisville's Lena Ustymenko was named BIG EAST Player of the Year, while Megan McGrane of Pittsburgh earned Libero of the Year. Debbie Brown, head coach of No. 8 Notre Dame, was named Coach of the Year after leading the Irish to a share of the BIG EAST regular season title.
The Bearcats, seeded fourth, open BIG EAST Tournament play on Friday at 10 a.m., taking on fifth-seeded St. John's in Louisville. UC, 18-11 overall, will be making its first appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament in its first year in the league.