Nebraska's Maric shares weekly Big 12 honor

LINCOLN Nebraska senior Aleks Maric was named the Big 12 Conference co-player of the week, the conference office announced Monday.

The Cornhuskers' 6-foot-11, 275-pound center was selected alongside Missouri sophomore J.T. Tiller by a panel of media who regularly covers the conference. Freshman Michael Beasley earned the league's rookie-of-the-week award.

After opening conference play with an 0-4 record, Maric helped Nebraska to a 2-0 mark last week, including a road victory at Missouri and a home win against Iowa State. The Sydney, Australia, native posted 13.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per game while posting a double-double in each contest. With the two double-doubles, Maric moved into a tie for 10th place on the Big 12 Conference all-time list, as he now has 28 double-doubles in his career including four this season.

Griffin earns Big 12 honor for Husker women

LINCOLN JuniorKelsey Griffin captured Big 12 player of the week honors for her outstanding play for theNebraska women's basketball team last week, the league office announced on Monday.

The6-2 forward from Eagle River, Alaska, averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and two steals per game for the Huskers against No. 18 Kansas State and Missouri last week. In Sunday's win at Missouri, Griffin poured in a season-high 23 points, including 17 in the second half, to power Nebraska to a 73-67 victory.

Griffinfueled NU's comeback from a 14-point deficit with 8:30 left in the game, by helping the Huskers score on 19 of their final 20 possessions. She hit 7-of-11 shots from the field and 9-of-12 free throws in 30 minutes of action. In the final 12 minutes of the game, shehad 15 points,two rebounds, a blocked shot, a steal and an assist.

In the Huskers' 77-75 loss to No. 18 Kansas State on Wednesday, Griffin posted her fourth double-double of the season and third in Big 12 play with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Sioux City to host NAIA Championship in 2008-09

SIOUX CITY, Iowa The City of Sioux City announced that the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena and the Long Lines Family Recreation Center have been selected by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as the host for the 2008 and 2009 NAIA National Volleyball Championships.

The NAIA National Volleyball Championship will be a 24 team event, with nearly 400 participants, held Dec. 2-6 in 2008 and Dec. 1-5 in 2009. The 24 teams in Sioux City will be selected from the final NAIA rankings and 12 first-round matches that will be played at campus sites across the country.

"We are excited to host another NAIA National Championship in Sioux City," said Corey Westra, Sioux City Sports Authority President and Great Plains Athletic Conference Commissioner. "We are proud the NAIA has given us this opportunity and know we will do our very best to host the student-athletes of the NAIA."

Lopers teams have busy weekend at Lincoln, Crete

KEARNEY The Nebraska-Kearney track and field team was busy this weekend at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln and the Scott Nisely Memorial Classic in Crete.

On Sunday, two Lopers competed in the Kip Janvrin Multi-Events meet in Crete.

Grand Island senior Anne McGovern represented the Lopers Saturday at UNL as she placed third (3:06.38) in the 1,000-meter run.

At Doane on Saturday, UNK had 33 top 10 finishes, including seven in the top two. Winning their events were Kearney junior Rylan Little at 600 meters (1:25.13), Alliance senior Andy Brown in the pole vault (14-6) and Kearney freshman Blake Millsap in the high jump (6-8).

Cairo junior Roni Hodges finished runner up at 400 meters (53.20). Julie Davis of Palmer placed third in the weight throw (51-0.50) and fifth in the shot (41-4).

Northwest's Anderson takes pole vault title

LINCOLN Christina Anderson of Grand Island took first place in the pole vault Sunday in the Nebraska All-Ages Open track and field meet at the University of Nebraska.

Anderson, a sophomore at Northwest High School, won by clearing 10 feet in the event.

NU women maintain No. 12 national ranking

LINCOLN The Nebraska women's gymnastics team maintained its No. 12 national ranking this week in the latest GymInfo poll released Monday.

The poll, which is calculated by average team score, also ranks NU third in the South Central region and second in the Big 12 Conference after a win over Missouri last weekend. In addition, the Huskers rank fourth nationally in team vault scoring (49.14), 12th on floor (48.81) and beam (48.75) and 25th on bars (48.35).

Individually, senior Emily Parsons is second on vault (9.925), third on beam (9.855) and 12th in the all-around (39.29).

The Huskers play host to No. 5 Michigan this Thursday at the Devaney Center at 7 p.m. NU's Dollar Days promotion that evening will feature $1 admission, hot dogs and Pepsi products, and the Huskers will don specially designed pink ribbon leotards in support of breast cancer awareness and the "Think Pink" themed competition.

Northwest Junior Wrestling Club sign-up Thursday

The Northwest Junior Wrestling Club will have a sign-up on Thursday in the Grand Island Northwest High School cafeteria.

The club is open to any youth in Grand Island in Pre-kindergarden through eighth grade. Pre-K through grade two can sign up at 6:30 p.m. Grades 3-8 can sign up beginning at 7 p.m.

Cost of the club is $30, which includes insurance and a T-shirt. E-mail Brian Sybrandts (bsybrand@esu10.org) or Jeff Paige (jpaige@esu10.org) for further information.

Nebraska Central wins Gold Division at Spike Fest

Nebraska Central won the Gold Division in the 16's Spike Fest tournament played Sunday. The tournament was hosted by G.I. Islanders.

Players include Jenna Derner, Sarah Mamot and Shelbea Mamot of St. Paul; Julie Happold of Giltner; Sydney Roepker and Maggie Ramold of Palmer; and Jenna McCray and Alisia Rivera of Grand Island.

The team is coached by Jamie Mamot and Kathy McCray.

G.I. Vikes team captures tournament title

The Grand Island Vikes 15s volleyball team won the Club Metro Classic gold volleyball tournament on Sunday.

Team members are: Morgan Garner, Mikayla Morgan, Brittany Raile, Jamie Rogers, Emily Jones, Tori Preisendorf, and Michaela Schimmer. The team is coached by Cindy Schimmer and Cherie Morgan.

Lammers earns silver medal at AAU World tourney

Grand Island native Brian Lammers earned a silver medal in the AAU World Championships played Jan. 25-27 in Orlando, Fla.

Lammers, a Grand Island Senior High graduate who played baseball for the Grand Island Home Federal seniors American Legion team as well as Nebraska-Kearney, played for Team Minnesota in the 32-team World tournament, which included teams from nine different countries. Lammers' best game at the plate came in the semifinals as he it a three-run home run and four RBIs in a 5-2 victory over Broken Bow.