Nov. 10, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. -

Senior outside hitter Paula Caten (Canarana, Brazil) has been named 2005 ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic First Team All-District for her efforts on the court and in the classroom. Caten is the first Kansas volleyball player in program history to receive the honor.

The 6-3 communications studies major maintains a 4.0 grade point average at KU and ranks third on the team with 3.20 kills and 2.23 digs per game. As a junior, Caten started all 31 of KU's matches and averaged 2.78 kills per game after being named the 2004 Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

Caten led the Jayhawk offense in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, averaging 4.00 kills per game and setting the KU record for most kills in a postseason match (24 at Washington, Dec. 4, 2004).

Caten was a two-time junior college All-American at Barton County C.C. in Great Bend, Kan., as a freshman and sophomore. The Brazil native came to the United States after playing for the Pinheiros Club in Sao Paulo.

As a first team selection, Caten will also be considered for ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America®.

ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Teams -- District 7
 
First Team
Paula Caten, Kansas 
Christina Houghtelling, Nebraska
Sarah Pavan, Nebraska
Katie Werges, Missouri State
Amanda Wiggins, Northern Colorado
Sheila Parrish, North Dakota State
Jessica Vander Kooi, Missouri

Second Team
Abby Baumann, Creighton
Leah Ratzlaff, Creighton
Emily Greisch, Creighton
Nicole Lorenzen, Iowa State
Lindsay Shockman-Rogers, North Dakota State
Elizabeth Meyers, Wichita State