Michigan State Women's Volleyball :: Official Athletic Site
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 1.18DANA 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