University of Minnesota Athletics
Cassie Busse Named First-Team Academic All-American
12/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Busse is the first player in school history to be named a first team Academic All-American, and only the third player to claim Academic All-American honors in two different seasons. She joins Sharon Oesterling who was named to the second team in 1987 and 88. Martie Larsen was named a second team Academic All-American in 1982 and was named to the third team in 1983. Chris Donnell also won third team Academic All-American honors in 1983.
Last week Busse became the third player in school history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year, joining Nicole Branagh (Co-Big Ten Player of the Year in 2000) and Martie Larsen in 1983. She was also named first team All-Big Ten for the second season in a row.
This season Busse has 549 kills marking the second straight season she has recorded 500 or more kills. She is only the fourth player in school history to accomplish this feat, joining Nicole Branagh (1998, 1999, 2000), Katrien DeDecker (1995 & 96) and Chris Schaefer (1988 & 89). Busse also became the fourth player in school history to be named National Player of the Week on Oct. 27. She also was named Big Ten Player of the Week twice this season to move her career total to four. She is one of only three players in school history to receive four or more conference player of the year honors.
Busse enters the week sixth on the Minnesota career kills list with 1,437 and eighth in service aces at 162. She is currently first in the Big Ten in service aces, third in kills and 10th in hitting percentage. Busse leads the team with 549 kills, a .299 hitting percentage, 54 service aces, is second in blocks at 95 and is third in digs with 290.
