Jan. 9, 2002

Anaheim, Calif. - Senior outside hitter Liz Wegner became the first player in Kansas State history to be named to an All-American team twice in her career on Wednesday when Volleyball magazine, in conjunction with ASICS, named her as one of 16 honorable mention selections in the January edition of the magazine. She was also one of the magazine's honorable mention selections in 2000.

Stanford's Logan Tom was selected as the magazine's Player of the Year, while Arizona coach David Rubio was honored as the Coach of the Year. Wegner was one of six players from the Big 12 Conference to be named to either the first, second, third or honorable mention teams, as she was joined by Nebraska's Nancy Metcalf (first team), Greichaly Cepero (second team), Amber Holmquist (second team) and Jenny Kropp (third team) and Texas A&M's Jenna Moscovic (third team). Texas' Bethany Howden and Mira Topic were named to the magazine's All-Freshmen Team.

The honor was one of a long list that Wegner earned this season for her outstanding play on the court. Along with fellow senior outside hitter Lisa Mimick, she was named to the All-Big 12 first team, marking the fourth consecutive year that the Wildcats have placed two players on the league's first team. A solid student, she was named the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII second team and to the Academic All-Big 12 first team.

The native of Grand Island, Neb.,Wegner ended her four-year career as arguably the most decorated player in Kansas State history. The holder of 21 school career, single-season and single-match records, she is the school's all-time leader in career kills (1,907), kills per game (4.48), 20-kill matches (27) and total attacks (4,891). She ranks among the top 10 in six other career categories, including fourth in digs (1,121) and 20/20 double-doubles (3), sixth in games played (426), seventh in service aces (116) and 20-dig matches and ninth in block assists (240). She also became just the fifth player in school history to tally at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. In 2001, she led the team in points (492), kills (440), kills per game (4.49) and total attacks (1,210), while her kills per game average finished third in the Big 12 Conference.

Kansas State concluded the 2001 season with a 20-8 overall record and 15-5 mark in Big 12 play, highlighted by the program's sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. For the first time since the NCAA changed the tournament to a 64-team bracket, the Wildcats hosted first and second-round action at Ahearn Field House where they played host to Arkansas, Oral Roberts and defending national champion Nebraska. After rallying from a 2-1 deficit in the opening round to defeat the Lady Razorbacks in five games, K-State battled the second-ranked Cornhuskers down to the wire before falling 25-30, 30-28, 26-30, 19-30 in the second round. Kansas State earned its fourth straight final Top 25 ranking on Dec. 21 when the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), in conjunction with USA Today, ranked the Wildcats No. 18 in its final season-ending poll.

The 2001 season marked the sixth time in the last seven seasons that Kansas State has posted 20 or more wins, including at least 19 for the seventh straight season. Playing in one of the nation's toughest conferences, the Wildcats broke the school-record for league wins with a 15-5 record en route to a third place finish. The Big 12 Conference tied an NCAA record with eight teams receiving bids to the NCAA Tournament in 2001. K-State accomplished all of its success with not only a first-year head coach in Suzie Fritz, but by also playing one of the nation's toughest schedules. The Wildcats played 20 of their 28 matches against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Seven of the team's eight losses came to teams ranked in the final Top 25, including three against Final Four participant Nebraska.

Kansas State will return eight of 11 letterwinners and three of six starters for the 2002 season, however, it must replace the loss of Wegner and Mimick.