Dec. 10, 2003

Mizzou freshman Jessica Vander Kooi was named the AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year, as announced on Wednesday. The award is the second postseason honor for Vander Kooi, who was selected the Big 12 Freshman of the Year on Nov. 30.

Also earning All-Central Region recognition on Wednesday were sophomores Lindsey Hunter and Shen Danru who were each named All-Region Honorable Mention.

The Central Region includes 41 schools from the Big 12 Conference, Mid-Continent Conference, Missouri Valley Conference and Southland Conference. Vander Kooi will join the Freshmen of the Year from the other seven regions as finalists for the National Freshman of the Year.

Vander Kooi started every match for Mizzou during the 2003 season. She averaged 2.47 kills per game, 2.81 digs per game and 0.82 blocks per game. She was second on the team with 11 double-doubles including one in the Tigers' NCAA Tournament First Round match last weekend when Vander Kooi had a career-high 23 kills and 18 digs against UC-Irvine.

Hunter has been named Central Region Honorable Mention for the second consecutive season. Hunter led the Big 12 Conference in assists per game with a 12.29 average and was named to the Big 12 Conference First Team. Hunter is third on the all-time career assists list at Mizzou with 3,103 assists in only two seasons with the Tigers.

Danru led MU in kills, digs and aces for the second straight year and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. She led Mizzou with 17 double-doubles this season, second most in the Big 12. She recorded 20 kills nine times and reached 20 digs five times. Danru had three match in which she had 20 kills and 20 digs. Her 0.47 aces per game mark is second best in the conference and she is in the top ten in the Big 12 in kills and digs per game.