12/10/03

Topic and Howden voted to 2003 AVCA All-Central Region Team

Bethany Howden	Mira Topic

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - University of Texas juniors Bethany Howden (Austin, Texas/Westlake) and Mira Topic (Kastela Kambelovac, Croatia/Vladimir Nazor) were voted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) 2003 All-Central Region, announced the organization on Wednesday.

The central region encompasses the 41 teams representing the Big 12 Conference, Mid-Continent Conference, Missouri Valley Conference and Southland Conference, as well as independents Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UT-Pan American.

With their inclusion on the all-region team, both Howden and Topic will be included on the national 2003 AVCA All-America ballot, which will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Topic's selection to the All-region team marks her second such honor in her three-year career, which also includes the AVCA Central Region Freshman of the Year in 2001. Howden's 2003 all-region accolade is her first.

This season, Howden paced the Longhorns and the Big 12 Conference in kills per game recording totals of 4.96 kills per game and 5.78 points per game in league contests. Overall, Howden had a career-high 500 kills (4.76/game) and added 34 aces and 73 blocks. She also had a career-high 230 digs (2.19/game). She was an All-Big 12 First Team selection, the third all-conference nod of her career (two first team selections, one honorable mention selection). Additionally, Howden was chosen as the Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 3) once this season, and was voted to the 2003 Time Warner Cable Classic All-Tournament Team.

Topic continued her torrid offensive performance in 2003, finishing the season second on the team in kills (466), digs (291), and also led the team with 53 aces. In addition, Topic had 60 blocks at the net. She was fourth in the Big 12 (conference matches only) in kills per game (4.28/game) and third in points (5.18/game). Like Howden, Topic was also an All-Big 12 First Team honoree, her third first-team selection in as many years. Also this season, Topic was selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 team; was chosen Big 12 Player of the Week (Oct. 20) once this season; and was voted to the Longhorn Classic All-Tournament Team. In the classroom, Topic was also a member of the 2003 Academic All-Big 12 second team.

The Longhorns finished the 2003 season with a 15-14 record overall and a 10-10 mark in the Big 12. The team capped the season with a 3-1 victory over No. 5 Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Gregory Gym.

All-Central Region Team
S - Jill Arganbright, University of Northern Iowa
S - Gabby Guerre, Kansas State
MB - Melissa Elmer, University of Nebraska
MB - Monique Gerlach, University of Colorado
MB - Lauren Goehring, Kansas State
MB - Josi Lima, University of Kansas
MB - Melissa Munsch, Texas A&M University
MB - Molly O'Brien, University of Northern Iowa
MB - Linette White, Southwest Missouri State
OH - Jennifer Saleaumua, University of Nebraska
OH - Mira Topic, University of Texas
OH - Bethany Howden, University of Texas

Honorable Mention: Chenille Bayless (Southwest Missouri State, S, Sr.), Shen Danru (Missouri, OH, So.), Laura Downey-Wallace (Kansas State, DS/Lib, Sr.), Lindsey Hunter (Missouri, S, So.), Laura Jones (Texas A&M, OH, So.), Rachael Tink (Northern Iowa, OH, So.)
Central Region Freshman of the Year: Jessica Vander Kooi, Missouri, RS/Opp
Central Region Coach of the Year: Susie Fritz, Kansas State