Ann Tillery
308.865.8131
Former Nebraska-Kearney volleyball player Kelli Brummer (Blair) has been named Nebraska’s NCAA Woman of the Year for 2002.
This year, the NCAA selected 50 Woman of the Year state winners, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia. The award honors outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and in community leadership. Brummer was one of 12 Division II student-athletes to win one of the 50 awards. A total of 342 student-athletes were nominated for the award with 62 coming from Division II.
A committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member schools selected the state winners and that same group will selected 10 finalists. The finalists will be announced the week of September 16th. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will then pick the NCAA National Woman of the Year, to be announced at an awards dinner November 2nd in Indianapolis. Last year’s national winner was University of Georgia swimmer Kim Black.
Brummer, and all 50 state winners, are officially invited to attend the awards dinner by the NCAA.
“What an exciting honor for a truly outstanding young woman. It is truly fitting that Kelli be recognized for her numerous academic and athletic accomplishments,” said Jon McBride, UNK Director of Athletics.
One of the greatest volleyball players in school history, Brummer graduated from UNK in May with a degree in Biology. She is currently attending graduate school at the University of North Carolina, where she is working towards a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy.
In March, Brummer was one of 58 student-athletes to earn a $ 5,000 Postgraduate Scholarship from the NCAA.
A two-time All-RMAC and All-Southwest Region pick, Brummer was the 1999 RMAC Player of the Year, the only season she was completely injury free. She finished 13th on the career kills list (1,084) and holds the school record for career hitting percentage (.356).
Off the court, Brummer was a two-time Academic All-American and a three-time Academic All-RMAC pick, thanks to her 3.98 cumulative GPA.
Brummer is the third Loper to have won this award, following softball pitcher Susan Johnson (1992) and track standout Steph Homan (1993).
