Kolb, Floyd, Pozdniakova Named Cougars of the Year

5/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | General

May 1, 2007

HOUSTON - The University of Houston Athletic Department named Kevin Kolb the Male Cougar of the Year last night at the annual Sports Banquet. Ebonie Floyd and Anastasia Pozdniakova were named to Co-Female Cougar of the Year.

Kolb was named the consensus Conference USA Player of the Year after leading the Cougars to the Conference USA Championship. He holds school records in completions, attempts, passing yards, plays, touchdowns responsible for and total offense. Kolb also leads all NCAA Div-I quarterbacks in completions, yards, plays, total offense, touchdowns responsible for and consecutive starts.

Kolb was selected as the 36th overall choice by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the NFL Draft this past weekend, after leading UH to their third bowl game in the last four years. He was also a unanimous pick to the All Conference USA First Team. Following his senior season, Kolb was selected to play in the Under Armour Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Floyd earned All-American honors during the indoor season after finishing sixth in the 200 meters at the NCAA Championships. She was also the C-USA Indoor Champion in the 200 meters and an All-Conference Selection in the 60 meters and as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team. With her win in the 200 meters, Floyd set a new Conference USA Record with a time of 23.41.

During the outdoor season Floyd has qualified for the NCAA Regional in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and will compete as a member of both the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams. She broke her own school record in the 400 meters at the California Relays and currently leads C-USA in the 200 and 400 meters. Her 100 meter time this season is the fifth fastest in school history.

Sophomore diver Pozdniakova joined Floyd as the Female Co-Cougars of the year. Completing her sophomore season at UH, the Elektrostal, Russia, native earned numerous honors in 2006-07 She was named the C-USA Diver of the Week five times during the regular season and was honored as the C-USA Diver of the Meet after winning both the 1- and 3-meter crowns at the C-USA Championship.

After winning both the 1- and 3-meter championships at the NCAA Zone D meet, Pozdniakova continued her impressive performances at the 2007 NCAA Championships during her first appearance at the nation's top collegiate meet. She finished as the National Runner-Up on the 3-meter springboard and captured another All-America honor on the 1-meter board after finishing fifth.

With all of those honors, she capped her season by being named the C-USA Diver of the Year, marking the sixth consecutive season that a Cougar diver has received that award.

Teams who have finished their season named team MVPs at the banquest last night. They are: Jordan Irwin (Golf), Jessica Cook (Women's Cross Country), Calum Neff (Men's Cross Country), Justine Farmer (Volleyball), Sophia Mundy (Soccer), Andrea Pa'lmai and Szintia Szanto (Swimming), Anastasia Pozdniakova (Diving), Tye Jackson (Women's Basketball), Leila Salek (Tennis), Jahmar Thorpe (Men's Basketball), Ebonie Floyd (Women's Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field), Ivan Diggs (Men's Indoor Track and Field), Kevin Kolb (Football, Offensive), Will Gulley (Football, Defensive), Matt Nicholson (Football, Special Teams), Wade Koehl (Football, Strength and Conditioning) and Biren Ealy (Football, Strength and Conditioning).

Several sports whose season have not yet completed recognized MVP candidates. Those candidates included: Alex Bentley, James Lee, Steve Magness and Tremaine Smith (Men's Outdoor Track and Field), Josh Stirneman and Jimmy Cesario (Baseball), Angel Shamblin, Jessica Valis and Elaina Nordstrom (Softball).

Academic MVPs
Josh Stirneman- Baseball
Whitney James- Women's Basketball
Perry McDaniel- Football
Jordan Irwin- Golf
Jennifer Dry and Sarah Fisher- Soccer
Katie Bush- Softball
Szinita Szanto- Swimming
Sonja Nikolic- Tennis
Erica Hannemann- Women's Cross Country
Brittani Williams- Women's Track and Field
Paul Goodwin- Men's Cross Country
Lucas Mireles- Men's Track and Field
Millicent Martin- Volleyball

Most Valuable Student Trainer
Casey Pyle

Coog For A Coog Cup
Women's Basketball

Robert L. Grainger Outstanding Leadership Award
Joseph Gonzales (Football)

Distinguished Senior Award
Vincent Marshall (Football)