Oct. 15, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo.--University of Missouri student-athletes Lei Wang (women's volleyball) and Tim Cornell (men's cross country / track and field) are this week's Lathrop & Gage Varsity M Student-Athletes of the Week for their exceptional contributions to their respective athletic teams, combined with their strengths in the classroom and time spent in the local community.
Wang, a native of Shanghai, China, is the setter for the volleyball team. As a redshirt sophomore, Wang, who has a 3.39 grade point average in Business Administration, has been instrumental in leading the Tigers to a five-match winning streak entering the October 17 match with No. 1 Nebraska. In addition to her normal threat as setter, Wang has been used as a right-side hitter as well in the absence of an injured teammate. As a result, Wang recorded Mizzou's first triple-double since 2001 in scoring 10 kills and adding 15 digs and 49 assists in a win over No. 25 Oklahoma on September 29. In addition, Wang was named to Ole Miss' Magnolia Classic All-Tournament Team and the Tiger Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier this season. Wang also "quarterbacked" the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament's second round last season in her frosh year.
Wang was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and the Big 12's Commissioner's Honor Roll last year.
The Tigers host No. 1 Nebraska Wednesday and No. 7 Texas Saturday. Both matches begin at 6:30 p.m.
Cornell, a graduate of Columbia's Hickman High School, is a member of Mizzou's cross country and track and field teams. A Biology major with a 3.41 GPA, Cornell, a junior in cross country, is coming off one of the best cross country performances of his career. At last weekend's Bradley Invitational, Cornell placed third overall in setting a new personal best in the eight-kilometer race with a 24:42 clocking. Cornell and sophomore Dan Hedgecock, who won the race, teamed up to help Mizzou to the team title last weekend.
As a track and field athlete, Cornell qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional at 1500 meters last season after clocking a lifetime-best 3:47.30 at the Arizona State Invitational.
Cornell was named to both cross country's and track and field's Academic All-Big 12 First Team last season as well as the Big 12's Commissioner's Honor Roll.
The Tiger cross country teams will compete in the Big 12 Championships on October 26 in Lubbock, Texas.
2007-08 Varsity M Student-Athletes of the Week
September 17 - Tim Barnes (football), Julianna Klein (volleyball)
September 24 - Michael Barrows (cross country/track and field), Janelle Cordia (soccer)
October 1 - Adam Crossett (football), Kasey Kimball (cross country/track and field)
October 8 - Lindsay McCoy (soccer), Mike Prince (football)
October 15 - Lei Wang (volleyball), Tim Cornell (cross country/track and field)
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