Nnamani is American Collegiate athlete of the year

Ogonna Nnamani grew up in the Illinois community of Normal. Her athletic career turned out to be anything but. Nnamani played on the U.S. Olympic women's volleyball team in Athens last summer, led the Stanford Cardinal to a national title in December, and took home the Broderick Cup as the nation's collegiate woman athlete of the year on Wednesday. Normal doesn't really sum up her achievements.

``The award isn't representative of my efforts,'' Nnamani said. ``It's more representative of the people around me who supported me throughout the years. Luckily, I've been at the right place at the right time.''

An outside hitter on the Cardinal, Nnamani was voted the most outstanding player at volleyball's Final Four after setting a Pac-10 record with 823 kills during the season -- not that she kept track.

``All I know is our team won in the end,'' she said.

Nnamani gave credit to just about everyone but herself during a witty acceptance speech. She thanked her friends, family, and especially the award's board of directors.

``I'll send you a check in the mail tomorrow,'' she joked.

Nnamani was a basketball star but switched sports during her freshman year in high school after her coach suggested she try out for the U.S. junior team -- to the chagrin of her parents.

``It took us a while to move to volleyball,'' her mother, Uzo Nnamani, said. ``She can dunk. All four children can dunk.''

Nnamani was up against four other award finalists, including LSU basketball standout Seimone Augustus, Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Auburn swimmer Kirsty Coventry and UCLA track star Monique Henderson, who won a gold medal on the U.S. 1,600 relay team in Athens.

But Nnamani was the only player to lead her team to a national championship. Throw in her 3.44 GPA in human biology, and that cinched it.

``Talk about the complete package of accomplishment,'' committee chair Patty Viverito said.

Nnamani is the third volleyball player to take home the top honor in women's collegiate sports. Deitre Collins from the University of Hawaii won in 1983, and Long Beach State standout and current beach volleyball champion Misty May was chosen in 1999.

May, who won her second straight world championship on Saturday, was excited to hear about Nnamani's award.

``It's nice to keep it in the volleyball world,'' May said. ``She's a great player and a great kid.''

While Nnamani intends to keep her game indoors and play in Europe next year while preparing for the 2008 Beijing Games, May said there's plenty of room on the beach if she ever wanted to give up sweaty gyms for sunshine and sand.

``When she's done making money, we'll be waiting,'' May said. ``It's pretty hard to go back indoors once you get a taste of the beach.''