MSU Spartans
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Women's Volleyball

First-Team All-Americans

From 1993-96 the Michigan State volleyball program was transformed into a nationally recognized program. The major changes that MSU underwent can be attributed directly to two players, Val Sterk and Dana Cooke. The duo was among the first two recruits of head coach Chuck Erbe. They arrived in East Lansing as a pair of unknown athletes with raw talent and left as the two greatest players in the history of the program, becoming the Spartans' first-ever All-Americans.

During their careers they guided MSU to back-to-back Big Ten titles, the first in program history, and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, another first for the Spartans. In 1995, they guided the Spartans to a 34-3 overall record and an NCAA Final Four berth.

"Dana and Val were the heart and soul of MSU volleyball for four years," Erbe said. "Without them, what we achieved would not have been possible. They will always be remembered as the two players who brought this program into national prominence.

"They left a legacy of excellence that will be followed by many after them, but may never be duplicated. They were the consumate student-athletes, All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, captains and University award recipients. Their accomplishments will serve as a beacon for other women who come into our program as to what can be achieved here. If there is an environment that fosters excellence, and if you have the skills, the desire and the discipline, they have shown what you can achieve at Michigan State University in all areas of student life.

"Whatever paths their lives go, they will always be great representatives of Michigan State volleyball and Michigan State University."

VAL STERK
  • First-Team All-America 1995 & 1996
  • AVCA First-Team All-American(1995, 96)
  • Volleyball Magazine First-Team
  • All-American in 1996 and Second-Team All-America selection in 1995
  • MSU's only two-time First-Team All-American
  • AVCA All-District 2 (1995, 96)
  • NCAA Regional All-Tournament team (1996)
  • First-Team All-Big Ten (1994, 95, 96)
  • MSU's only three-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection
  • GTE Academic All-America Third Team (1996)
  • GTE Academic All-District First Team (1996)
  • GTE Academic All-District Second Team (1994)
  • Academic All-Big Ten (1994, 95, 96)
  • Four-time Big Ten Player of the Week
  • AVCA National Player of the Week (1995)
  • Named to five all-tournament teams
  • Team MVP (1996)
  • Team co-captain (1996)
  • Team Hitting Efficiency Award winner four times
  • MSU Alderton Female Athlete of the Year (1995)
  • Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor (1997)
  • Led the nation in hitting efficiency with a .449 percentage in 1996
  • MSU's career leader hitting efficiency (.379) and block solos (128)
  • 2nd all-time in kills (1,518), block assists (447) and total blocks (575)
  • Holds MSU's top three single-season hitting efficiency marks and is the only player in history to hit .400 or better in a season
  • Currently playing with the U.S. National team 
STERK'S CAREER STATISTICS
Year     M  GM  Kills   KPG      E   TA     Pct.    A   SA  Digs    DPG     BS-BA-TB    BPG
1993     31 106  242    2.28     81  568    .284     9  15   89     0.84     23-78-101  0.95
1994     31 115  356    3.09     87  790    .341     6   5  103     0.89     37-115-152 1.32
1995     37 125  418    3.34     83  830    .404    21  27  337     2.70     37-140-177 1.42
1996     33 115  502    4.37     93  911    .449    20  28  254     2.21     31-114-145 1.26
Totals  132 461 1518    3.29    344 3099    .379    56  75  783     1.70    128-447-544 1.18
DANA COOKE
  • First-Team All-America 1995
  • AVCA First-Team All-American (1995)
  • Volleyball Magazine Third-Team
  • All-American in 1995 and an honorable mention selection in 1996
  • AVCA All-District 2 (1995)
  • NCAA Mountain Regional Tournament MVP (1995)
  • NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team (1995, 96)
  • First-Team All-Big Ten (1995, 96)
  • GTE Academic All-America First Team (1996)
  • GTE Academic All-America Third Team (1995)
  • GTE Academic All-District First Team (1995, 96)
  • Academic All-Big Ten (1994, 95, 96)
  • Big Ten Player of the Week (1995)
  • AVCA National Player of the Week (1995)
  • Named to three all-tournament teams
  • Team co-captain (1995, 96)
  • MSU Chester Brewer Leadership Award winner (1997)
  • Holds MSU single-season marks for block assists (163) and total blocks (191)
  • MSU career leader in block assists (494) and total blocks (581)
  • One of four MSU players with over 1,000 kills and digs in a career
  • Currently playing professionally in Zwolle, Holland 
COOKE'S CAREER STATISTICS
Year    M   G    K      KPG      E   TA     Pct.     A   SA Digs    DPG     BS-BA-TB    BPG
1993    31  107  246    2.30     95  634    .238     14  28  265    2.48    19-81-100   0.93
1994    32  118  288    2.44     98  689    .276     22  31  298    2.52    22-133-155  1.31
1995    36  121  380    3.14    127  887    .285     27  36  326    2.69    28-163-191  1.58
1996    33  114  312    2.74    101  801    .263     84  54  356    3.12    18-117-135  1.18
Totals  132 460 1226    2.66    421 3011    .267    147 149 1245    2.71    87-494-581  1.26

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