Dallas, Texas -- Nebraska volleyball player Laura Pilakowski and Husker baseball player Jeff Leise have been named the 2003 Female and Male Big 12 Sportspersons of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday. Pilakowski and Leise were chosen by a panel of conference administrators and media who cover the Big 12 throughout the year. The Huskers will be honored at an awards ceremony in conjunction with the 2003 Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship on Dec. 6, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Pilakowski exhibited her dedication to excellence on and off the court through her outstanding character and leadership. As a senior in 2002, Pilakowski earned Big 12 Volleyball Co-Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors and was named an AVCA second-team All-American en route to helping the Huskers to a 31-2 record and their fifth straight Big 12 Conference title. A two-time AVCA All-American and a three-time All-Big 12 pick, Pilakowski finished her collegiate career ranked ninth in school history in kills (1,183), ninth in attacks (2,661) and eighth all-time in hitting percentage (.318), the highest mark ever by an NU outside hitter. After volleyball season, Pilakowski joined the NU basketball team and earned a part-time starting role as a forward. Despite playing for the first time in four years, Pilakowski averaged 5.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game.

While assisting the Huskers to their 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, Pilakowski was still able to excel in the classroom and devote her time to the community. She was one of only 58 student-athletes in all NCAA Divisions I, II and III fall sports to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship this year. She was also just the third three-time Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American in school history, as she was recognized with first-team honors in 2002 and was a second-team pick in 2001 and 2000. Pilakowski also spent many hours volunteering at schools, museums and for non-profit organizations. She has also served as a motivational speaker to kids regarding the value of education and has instructed kids at the Nebraska volleyball camps.

"We want people to know what a big deal it is for a small-town girl from Nebraska to win this award in such a prestigious conference," Husker Coach John Cook said. "Laura truly understands that the greatest rewards in life come from giving to others. She is an incredible person who has used her gifts to become a role model for the young girls in this state and for future Nebraska volleyball players. Laura is one of the top student-athletes ever at Nebraska, and we feel so fortunate that she is a part of Husker volleyball."

Like Pilakowski, Leise has demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship during his baseball career at Nebraska, helping the Huskers to Big 12 titles in 2001 and 2003. A native of Omaha, Neb., Leise was a three-year starter who finished his career ranked second on school lists in hits (305), runs scored (210) and triples (20). A three-time All-Big 12 honoree, he was the 2002 National Collegiate Baseball Writers District VI Player of the Year and was named a first-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Not only did Leise shine on the diamond, but in the classroom as well. He was a two-time Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year, a three-time first-team academic All-Big 12 recipient, and he was named to the Big 12 Commissioner?s Honor Roll in each of his eight semesters at Nebraska. While leading the Huskers as team captain to the Big 12 title in 2003, Leise still found time to serve in the community by visiting terminally ill youth, distributing food to the needy during the holidays and instructing kids at the Nebraska Baseball Camp. Leise is currently playing professional baseball after being drafted in the 12th round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres.

"We are thrilled that Jeff was selected for this outstanding award," NU Baseball Coach Mike Anderson said. "We have seen the work that Jeff has done first-hand to not only make himself a better student-athlete at Nebraska, but to also make a positive impact throughout the community. His coaches and players have recognized him for his efforts and accomplishments, and it is gratifying to see him honored by the Big 12 as their Sportsman of the Year."

This is the third year the Big 12 has awarded Sportsperson-of-the-Year honors. Nominated by league?s athletic departments, the honorees were chosen based on the following criteria: (1) must be a member of an intercollegiate athletic team during the 2002-03 academic year; (2) must be in good academic standing; (3) must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of a sports-competition setting; (4) must have demonstrated consistently good sportsmanship and ethical conduct in his/her daily participation in intercollegiate athletics; and (5) noteworthy act or acts of sportsmanship must have occurred during the 2002-03 academic year.

Big 12 Female Sportsperson of the Year
2001 Kim Woodlee, Kansas State, basketball
2002 Natalie Ritchie, Texas Tech, basketball
2003 Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska, volleyball

Big 12 Male Sportsperson of the Year
2001 Dan Alexander, Nebraska, football
2002 Cael Sanderson, Iowa State, wrestling
2003 Jeff Leise, Nebraska, baseball