Colorado University Athletics
Austin and Edelman Named All-Pac-12
December 01, 2015 | Volleyball
SAN FRANCISCO — University of Colorado seniors Alexis Austin and Nicole Edelman have been selected to the All-Pac-12 Conference Volleyball team, as announced on Tuesday by the league.
“All-Pac-12 honors for Alexis and Nicole are a positive at the end of a very tough, but productive season,” head coach Liz Kritza said. “They both worked very hard to get to this point in their respective careers and it is good to see their abilities recognized as they both head out for the next step in their playing careers.”
In total, four Buffs garnered All-Pac-12 honors. Sophomore Gabby Simpson was named to the All-Pac-12 honorable mention squad, while freshman Naghede Abu was selected to the Pac-12 Freshman honorable mention team.
Austin, a 6-2 outside hitter from Houston, Texas, started in all 32 matches for the Buffs and averaged 4.05 kills per set, which is fifth in the Pac-12, while hitting .260 to earn her second consecutive All-Pac-12 Team honor. She also recorded 1.67 digs per set, 0.66 blocks per set and 4.56 points per set (sixth in the conference). In conference only stats, Austin was fifth in kills (4.22) and points (4.74) per set. This season she became the Buffs rally scoring era career kills leader, finishing with 1,443. In the rally scoring record book, she also ranks second in attacks (3,711) and is tied for fifth in block solos (40). Austin is second in sets (439) and matches (122) played.
“Alexis remains one of the top athletes in the league and across the nation, and her ability to improve her game has been instrumental in her success,” Kritza said.
During the season, Austin earned a lot of recognition. She was tabbed the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 16 after helping the Buffs sweep then-No. 19 Arizona and then-No. 21 Arizona State. Austin averaged 4.62 kills per set and hit .408 that weekend. She was also named to the Preseason All-Pac-12, Omni Hotels Colorado Volleyball Classic and Rice Adidas All-Tournament Teams. Austin ended the season with 498 kills, 206 digs and 81 blocks.
“It's definitely a great feeling to end the season on a strong positive note with this honor,” Austin said. “I am more than grateful to have had the opportunity to play my career in the Pac-12.”
Edelman is a 6-0 setter. She helped guide the Buffs to a .234 hitting percentage, which was fifth in the conference. The team hit .235 in conference only matches, which was fourth. Edelman handed out 1,229 assists, averaging 9.91 per set, the sixth best mark in the conference. In Pac-12 only matches, Edelman averaged 10.60 assists per set, which was third. She started in all 32 contests this season and added 0.84 kills, 2.15 digs and 0.48 blocks per set.
“Nicole is a fighter and a winner,” Kritza said. “She battles through to ensure that her team is in a winning position and that attitude, coupled with her volleyball knowledge and experience will carry her far in her career.”
The Boulder, Colo. native is the CU rally scoring era leader in matches (124) and sets (464) played. She also ranks second in career assists (4,278) and is fourth in service aces (79). Edelman was named to the 2015 Omni Hotels Colorado Volleyball Classic and Omni Invitational All-Tournament Teams.
“It's a huge honor to be recognized for this award among so many great players in such a competitive conference,” Edelman said. “It's such a great feeling to have hard work pay off at the end of my collegiate career and I want to thank my coaches and my teammates for all the support.”
Simpson, a 6-3 right side hitter from Colorado Springs, Colo., was second for the Buffs with 3.41 kills per set and added 1.71 digs per set and 0.67 blocks per set. She garnered Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors twice during the season. The first award came after she led the Buffs to a 4-0 record at the Omni Invitational, averaging 4.71 kills per set while hitting .303. The second honor was on Oct. 19 after helping the Buffs defeat then-No. 6 Stanford and Cal. Simpson hammered a career-best 25 kills against SU and hit .405.
“Gabby is one of the top young players in the nation and seeing her name in this type of recognition is a much deserved honor,” Kritza said. “She is an All-American caliber athlete, who will develop even more as she continues to play in the Pac-12.”
The Omni Invitational MVP was also selected to the Rice Adidas Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier this season. She ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in kills (3.41) and was ninth in points (3.97). In league-only statistics, Simpson was ninth in kills (3.53) and points (4.01). She started in all 32 matches.
“I am very happy that I received this recognition as the Pac-12 has many strong players in the league,” Simpson said. “I could not have done it without my team.”
Abu, a 6-4 middle blocker from Riverside, Calif., led the Buffs with 1.20 blocks per set, which ranked eighth in the Pac-12. She came on strong during conference play, and posted 1.28 blocks per set, which was third in the league. Abu was tabbed the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Oct. 19 after she averaged 1.50 blocks per set in wins against Cal and then-No. 6 Stanford.
“Naghede is a bright young player with a ton of possibility,” Kritza said. “Leading all the freshmen in the league in blocking is a great sign for her brilliant future that she has ahead of her.”
Abu was also named to the 2015 Omni Invitational All-Tournament Team. She earned 29 starts in 31 matches played this year and averaged 1.18 kills and hit .254.
“I'm very grateful for the recognition and I'm excited for my future in a Buffs jersey,” Abu said.
Kritza also wanted to recognize her libero, Cierra Simpson, who was considered for the team but was not selected.
“I would have liked to see all our key players on this list, especially our libero CeCe,” Kritza said. “She is one of the top players in the league and will continue to work even harder as she returns for her senior season in the Pac-12.”
