June 22, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Chance to be the best

by Rick Eymer

Ogonna Nnamani may have a tough time catching up with the United States national women's volleyball team this summer. That's because she continues to gather national recognition for her athletic ability at Stanford.

Nnamani, a recent Stanford grad, was named one of the five finalists for the Honda-Broderick Cup, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate women's athlete.

The award will be presented at a dinner in New York on Wednesday, June 29. The other finalists are LSU basketball player Seimone Augustus, Auburn swimmer Kirsty Coventry, UCLA track star Monique Henderson, and Texas softball pitcher Cat Osterman.

Stanford grad Tara Kirk won the prestigious honor last year, and she and Nnamani share more than attending the same college - both represented the U.S. at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Kirk as a swimmer, and Nnamani on the volleyball team.

Former Cardinal volleyball teammate Logan Tom, a two-time Olympian, was a finalist in 2003.

Since the award was established in 1977, two volleyball players have won the honor: Hawaii's Deidre Collins in 1983 and Long Beach State's Misty May in 1999.

Nnamani, the national Co-Player of the Year, recorded a Pac-10 record 2,450 kills during her career in which she helped lead Stanford to a pair of national championships. She recorded 29 kills and hit .562 in a three-game sweep of Minnesota in the finals.

"The experience she has and the leadership she brings has made her the central leader of the team," Stanford women's volleyball coach John Dunning said. "I have never coached a team where we leaned on someone as much as we lean on Ogonna."

Nnamani also earned national honors as Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Year, and on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year. She was also named a NCAA Today's Top VIII Award recipient for academic and athletics achievements, character and leadership.

"I have taken an exciting path through volleyball," Nnamani said after winning the national title in December. "I was able to cultivate my skills better with coaching and the team that surrounded me. I worked really hard this summer and I am glad that I am where I am."

The finalists are selected not only for their superior athletic skills, but also for their leadership abilities, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. The balloting involves all NCAA member institutions.

"I have always looked at her for leadership, and as a leader on the team in a really big way," Stanford's Kristin Richards said of Nnamani. "Since the Olympics she has been even more of a force on this team. She is a consistent inspiration for our team."

Baseball

Stanford junior second baseman Jed Lowrie was named third team All-American by the National Baseball Writers Association..

Lowrie, the 45th overall pick (by the Boston Red Sox) in the First-Year Player Draft, was previously named a Sports Weekly First Team All-American.

Lowrie led Stanford with 14 homers and 66 RBI, while hitting .317. He also paced the Cardinal in slugging percentage (.594), on-base percentage (.416), walks (41), sacrifice flies (10), total bases (133) and multiple-RBI games (19).

He has started 148 consecutive games for the Cardinal at second base.

Softball

Former Stanford star and Olympian Jessica Mendoza was one of 11 of the 15 Olympians who competed in Athens to be named to the United States national softball team on Monday.

Mendoza, who continues to hold several Stanford offensive records, will compete with Team USA at the first ever World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City beginning July 14. The team travels to Yokohama on July 26 for the Japan Cup.

Stanford seniors Lauren Lappin and Catalina Morris and Stanford grad Dana Sorenson were named to the United States Elite team which will participate in the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C. beginning July 2.

Menlo College

Brianna Finch was named assistant women's basketball coach and Dave Faz was added to the women's volleyball coaching staff.

Finch was the head coach at Mount Hood Community College last season and has served as an assistant coach at Santa Rosa Junior College.

"Brianna will fit right in because she is a hard worker with enthusiasm and energy," Menlo coach and athletic director Caitlin Collier said. "She will be a huge asset to the development of our low block players."

Faz spent the past six years at Branham High in San Jose.

"Dave will really aid our local recruiting and he will bring good knowledge of the game," Oaks coach Bill Imwalle said. >

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