University of Minnesota Athletics
Dixon and Wittman Named All-Big Ten
11/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 29, 2011
University of Minnesota sophomore standouts Ashley Wittman and Tori Dixon were both named All-Big Ten, announced Tuesday Nov. 29 by the Big Ten Conference office. It is Wittman's first honor, while Dixon was named honorable mention last season.
Wittman, one of seven unanimous players, ranked second in the Big Ten in kills (506 averaging 4.52 per set), and points (554.5), trailing only the Big Ten Player of the Year, Purdue's Ariel Turner. A six-rotation player, Wittman saw action in all 112 sets and had 506 kills and 316 digs, which ranked third on the team as her 54 blocks was third. Named a Preseason All-Big Ten, Wittman was named a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week. Over the course of the tournaments, Wittman was a three-time All-Tournament selection, including the Most Valuable Player for the Northern Iowa Tournament and the Marquette Challenge. Following the Penn State and Ohio State weekend, Wittman achieved weekly conference honors when she had 52 kills, including a career-high 31 against Penn State.
Also tabbed as a Preseason All-Big Ten, Dixon ranks third in the conference in hitting percentage when she hit .361 during the regular season. Leading the team in aces (35), Dixon ranks sixth in the Big Ten. She also ranks second on the team in kills (315), kills per set (2.81), points (400.5) and blocks (99). To open her sophomore season, Dixon hit .410 and had a career-high 22 kills against Southern Cal. In the Texas matches, Dixon had 21 kills and eight aces and hit over .444 in both matches, while posting a career-best .667 against Illinois (10/29) and Wisconsin (11/23). An all-tournament selection at Northern Iowa, she had seven blocks and nine kills. She also extended a streak of seven years-straight years a Gopher middle blocker has received First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Dixon has combined with Lauren Gibbemeyer (2008-10), Jessy Jones (2007) and Meredith Nelson (2005-06) to put together that string of first-team honors. Going back to 1999, Minnesota has had a middle blocker named to the first team in 10 of the last 13 seasons.
The Big Ten also recognized 12 Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Minnesota's sportsmanship representative was junior Mia Tabberson.
ALL-BIG TEN*
Michelle Bartsch, Sr., OH, ILL (2)
COLLEEN WARD, Sr., OH, ILL (2)
JENILEE RATHJE, Sr., OH, MSU (2)
Tori Dixon, So., MB, MINN
Ashley Wittman, So., OH, MINN
Lauren Cook, Jr., S, NEB
GINA MANCUSO, Jr., OH, NEB
Hannah Werth, Jr., OH, NEB
Stephanie Holthus, So., OH, NU
Mari Hole, Jr., OH, OSU
Deja McClendon, So., OH, PSU (2)
ARIEL SCOTT, So., RS, PSU
Katie Slay, So., MB, PSU
TIFFANY FISHER, Sr., MB, PUR
ARIEL TURNER, Jr., OH, PUR
Honorable Mention
Alex Hunt, Sr., OH, MICH
Kyndra Abron, Sr., OH, MSU
Morgan Broekhuis, So., RS, NEB
Brooke Delano, Sr., MB, NEB
Emily Danks, Jr., RS, OSU
Alexis Mitchell, Jr., MH, WIS
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Liz McMahon, OPP, ILL
Lexi Dannemiller, S, MICH
Katie Dutchman, MB, NU
MICHA HANCOCK, S, PSU
Kierra Jones, MB, PUR
Ellen Chapman, OH, WIS
Courtney Thomas, S/OH, WIS
* Additional honorees due to a tie
Unanimous selections in CAPS
Career selections in parentheses
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ariel Turner, PUR
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Katie Slay, PSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Micha Hancock, PSU
COACH OF THE YEAR (COACHES AND MEDIA)
Dave Shondell, PUR
