Nov. 8, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri senior volleyballer Jessica Vander Kooi was named to the College Sports Information Director of America's (CoSIDA) Academic All-District team as announced by the organization on Wednesday. Vander Kooi, a native of Hinton, Iowa, is named to the group of only six individuals representing CoSIDA's District VII for the second-consecutive year. Vander Kooi is now in the running to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-American.

Vander Kooi, who is arguably one of possibly four to six candidates for this season's Big 12 Player of the Year, excels in the classroom as well, carding a 3.84 cumulative GPA in the international business field. In addition, Vander Kooi was recently named to the Big 12's 2006 Fall "Good Works Team" for her work on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.

Vander Kooi, a 2006 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, currently ranks second in the Big 12 in service aces per game (0.37), fifth in kills per game (4.33), and fourth in points per game (5.19).

The Tigers are next in action on Saturday, traveling to Austin, Texas, to take on No. 8 Texas in an attempt to sweep the season series against the Longhorns. Mizzou is at home next Wednesday when they take on No. 15 Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m., in the Hearnes Center.