Volleyball All-Big Ten Team Announced
November 30, 2004 | Volleyball
Sheila Shaw, a junior on the University of Wisconsin volleyball team, was a unanimous selection to the 2004 All-Big Ten team, the Big Ten Conference Office announced today. Senior Jill Odenthal was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick and the UW's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient for volleyball while Jackie Simpson was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Shaw, a 6-1 middle blocker, picks up her first all-conference honor. She currently leads the Badgers with 3.81 kills and 1.28 blocks per game. The Muskego, Wis., native has recorded double-figure kills in a team-high 21 matches this season and has led the UW in kills in 12 matches. Shaw has also led the Badgers in blocks in 14 matches. She was named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 1, the most valuable player of the 2004 InnTowner Invitational and to the 2004 Jayhawk Invitational All-Tournament team.
Odenthal, a 6-0 opposite hitter, ranks second on the UW team with 2.96 kills per game. She has recorded double-digit kills in 16 matches and double-figure digs in seven matches. The Geneva, Ill., native ranks third on the team in total blocks (0.76/game). Odenthal was a 2003 All-Big Ten and AVCA All-Mideast Region pick. She was named to the 2004 InnTowner Invitational all-tournament team.
Simpson, a 6-0 setter, ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 12.98 assists per game. As a freshman, she has started in 24 matches and played in 27 of 28 matches. Simpson put up a career-high 75 assists as the Badgers upset then-second-ranked Minnesota on Oct. 30. A native of Downers Grove, Ill., Simpson also adds 1.81 digs, 0.82 kills and 0.74 blocks per game. She was named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Year on Oct. 25.
Wisconsin is making its 13th overall and ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament when it hosts first and second matches this Friday and Saturday in the UW Field House. In the first round, Notre Dame (20-8) will take on Valparaiso (29-4) on Friday at 5 p.m. while 14th-seeded Wisconsin (19-9) will take on Loyola (21-8) at 7 p.m. First-round winners will meet in a second-round match on Saturday at 7 p.m. The second-round winner will advance to the NCAA Regional in Green Bay, Wis., on Dec. 10-11.
