Four Huskers were among the 12 players named to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII volleyball team announced Thursday. Senior outside hitter Laura Pilakowski and senior middle blocker Amber Holmquist received first-team honors, while senior setter Greichaly Cepero and junior outside hitter Anna Schrad were named to the second team.

The honor is the third for Pilakowski, who also earned first-team honors in 2000 and 2001. Cepero was a first-team selection last season and garnered second-team honors in 2000. Holmquist, who earned second-team honors last year, is making her first appearance on the first team. This year marks the first time Schrad has been recognized on the academic all-district team.

Nebraska?s four selections were the most of any school in District VII. No other school had more than two selections. Pilakowski and Holmquist will move on to the national academic All-America ballot, as will each district?s first six first-team members.

Pilakowski, who owns a 3.95 cumulative GPA in marketing, is a two-time Verizon/CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-American and a two-time academic All-Big 12 selection. The senior from Columbus, Neb., leads the team with 3.72 kills per game and is the most efficient outside hitter in the Big 12 Conference with a .332 hitting percentage. A two-time first-team All-Big 12 pick, Pilakowski earned first-team AVCA All-America honors as a sophomore in 2000.

Holmquist, who owns a 3.74 GPA in communication studies, is the best blocker and the most efficient attacker in the Big 12 Conference. The Houston, Texas, native averages 1.99 blocks per game, a mark that ranks second in the nation. She also leads the league with a .389 hitting percentage and ranks 13th nationally in that category. A two-time AVCA All-American, Holmquist will likely become the first player in school history to lead NU in blocks per game and hitting percentage in four straight seasons. She already hold 14 school records, including 12 blocking marks.

Schrad, who owns a 3.94 GPA in exercise science, provides her greatest contribution at the service line. The Lincoln, Neb., native leads the Huskers with 24 service aces and has notched eight service aces against NU?s six ranked opponents, the most on the team. She posted a career-high six at Oklahoma Oct. 16, when she served 14 straight points in the first game of the three-game win. Schrad earned first-team academic All-Big 12 honors in 2001.

Cepero, who owns a 3.41 GPA in business administration, is averaging 1.57 kills per game on a .361 clip, 12.36 assists per game, 2.38 digs per game and 1.15 blocks per game while leading NU to a .316 team hitting percentage. She ranks third all-time at Nebraska with 3,591 assists. The Dorado, Puerto Rico, native is a two-time AVCA All-American. She earned third-team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2001, and she was the 2000 AVCA Player of the Year and the 2000 Big 12 Player of the Year.

2002 Verizon Academic All-District Volleyball (University Division) Team
First Team
Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major (s)
Jill Arganbright Northern Iowa Jr. Iowa City, Iowa 3.98 biology and chemistry
Elizabeth Gower Colorado Sr. Naperville, Ill. 3.94 chemical engineering
Amber Holmquist Nebraska Sr. Houston, Texas 3.74 communication studies
Cari Jensen Kansas State Jr. Fowler, Colo. 3.96 kinesiology
Laura Pilakowski Nebraska Sr. Columbus, Neb. 3.95 marketing
Kim Taskey Colorado Sr. Portage, Mich. 3.90 marketing

Second Team
Name School Yr. Hometown GPA Major (s)

Greichaly Cepero Nebraska Sr. Dorado, Puerto Rico 3.41 business administration
Amy Doman Wyoming So. Brentwood, Tenn. 4.00 health science
Colleen Hunter St. Louis Sr. St. Louis, Mo. 3.72 business
Beth Middendorf St. Louis Sr. Freeburg, Ill. 3.97 education
Lisa Morris Missouri Sr. Overland Park, Kan. 3.85 mechanical engineering
Anna Schrad Nebraska Jr. Lincoln, Neb. 3.94 exercise science