AVCA ALL-AMERICANS
KELLY ASPEGREN, 1994
Outside Hitter, Callaway, Neb.
Kelly Aspegren, a two-year starter for the Huskers, had 332 kills as a
senior and hit .344 to lead Nebraska, including .410 in Big Eight play.
Aspegren was a first-team All-Big Eight selection as a senior and was
tabbed honorable mention as a junior. She was also a two-time academic All-Big Eight
selection. During her two years as a starter, Nebraska compiled a 56-7 overall mark and
a 22-2 Big Eight ledger. She finished her career with 557 kills on 1,329 attacks for a .280
career hitting percentage and an average of 2.29 kills per game. She also recorded 657
digs and 156 blocks for career averages of 2.70 and 0.64 per game.
STEPHANIE THATER, 1990, 1991, 1992
Middle Blocker, Union, Mo.
Stephanie Thater was the second three-time All-American in Husker
volleyball history and is still regarded as one of the best middle blockers
to come through the NU program. She led her team to the NCAA semifinals
as a sophomore and compiled an 81-14 record in her three years as a starter. Her teams
went 48-0 in regular-season conference play, winning four Big Eight titles and three
conference tournament championships. Thater was a two-time Big Eight Player of the
Year and a three-time all-conference selection. She holds the school record for block
assists in a five-game match with 14. Her season records for block assists (165), total
blocks (197) and blocks per game (1.92) stood for seven years before Amber Holmquist
topped them in 2000, and her career records for block assists (502) and total blocks
(591) stood until 2002.
CRIS HALL, 1991
Outside Hitter, Chanute, Kan.
Cris Hall is one of only five athletes and the only female in Nebraska history
to earn All-America honors in two different sports. Hall was a second-team
All-American as an outside hitter in 1991, and earned four All-America
track certificates from 1991 to 1993 (three high jump, one heptathlon). Hall still holds
the NU all-time outdoor track record in the heptathlon (5,936 points). Her 1,251 career
kills rank ninth in school history.
JANET KRUSE, 1989, 1990, 1991
Outside Hitter, Fort Calhoun, Neb.
Janet Kruse is one of the finest student-athletes to ever play for the
Huskers. A native of Fort Calhoun, Neb., Kruse was Nebraska’s first
three-time All-American, earning first-team honors in 1989 and 1990
and second-team honors in 1991. She was also named the NCAA Woman of the Year
for Nebraska and garnered an NCAA Today Top Eight award in 1992, after twice earning
CoSIDA Academic All-American-of-the-Year honors in 1990 and 1991. She also earned
third-team academic All-America honors in 1989. During her career, the Huskers made
two NCAA semifinal appearances, including a title appearance in 1989. Her 33 kills in
a five-game win over Kentucky are tied for eighth on the all-time single-match charts.
Kruse also ranks ninth on Nebraska’s career kill charts with 1,269 kills.
VAL NOVAK, 1989, 1990
Setter, Oak Lawn, Ill.
A native of Oak Lawn, Ill., Val Novak earned first-team All-America
certificates after leading the Huskers to NCAA semifinal appearances
in 1989 and 1990, including a runner-up finish in 1989. Novak, who
converted to setter after playing outside hitter her first two seasons, ended her career
by earning the Big Eight Player-of-the-Year award in 1990. She finished with 778 career
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2015 NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL
kills and ranks second in career service aces (161), eighth in digs (1,068) and fourth
in set assists (3,303). She led the nation in assists per set and guided Nebraska to the
nation’s top hitting percentage in 1989. NU never finished lower than fifth in the national
rankings during her career.
VIRGINIA STAHR, 1988, 1989
Middle Blocker, Waco, Neb.
Virginia Stahr set the standard for excellence in the Nebraska volleyball
program as a standout athlete and student. Stahr was tabbed a two-time
All-American and capped her career by leading the Huskers to a national
runner-up finish in 1989. She earned the NCAA Today Top Eight award after earning CoSIDA
Academic All-American-of-the-Year honors in 1988 and 1989. Her teams won four Big
Eight regular-season titles and three conference tournament titles, and she was named
the 1989 Big Eight Player of the Year. She still shares the school record for service aces in
a five-game match (7), while her 31 kills vs. Texas rank 16th on the all-time single-match
charts. She also ranks third in school history in career service aces (159), second in solo
blocks (106), fifth in total blocks (555) and seventh in block assists (449).
LORI ENDICOTT, 1987, 1988
Setter, Springfield, Mo.
Lori Endicott is one of the most decorated setters in Nebraska’s long line
of All-America setters. Endicott earned first-team honors as a senior and
was a second-team selection as a junior after playing right side her first
two seasons. Endicott continued her playing career as a member of the U.S. National
Team from 1988 to 1996. She was America’s starting setter at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic
Games and was named the best setter at the Barcelona Games after leading the United
States to a bronze medal. A two-time Big Eight Player of the Year, Endicott led Nebraska
to four Big Eight regular-season titles during her career. She was also named a 1988
CoSIDA Academic All-American. Several of Endicott’s marks may stand untouched for
years, including her school-record 109 assists vs. Texas.
KAREN DAHLGREN, 1985, 1986
Middle Blocker, Bertrand, Neb.
Karen Dahlgren played a key role in Nebraska’s 1986 national runner-up
finish. A two-time All-American, Dahlgren was honored as a Honda-Sport
Award winner in volleyball after being named to the CoSIDA Academic
All-America team three straight years. Dahlgren holds school records for solo blocks in
three- and four-game matches. She also holds the top two single-season solo block
marks as well as NU’s career solo block record. She ranks sixth on the all-time total blocks
chart with 550.