Sarah Pavan answered questions during a live broadcast Monday afternoon on Canadian TV.

Already this month, the Nebraska volleyball star — honored this week as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year — has been to the White House. Might she show up at next month’s ESPYs?

“I haven’t been invited,” Pavan said.

It’s OK. Not even an ESPY — sports’ answer to the Academy Awards — could top the latest honor in what has amounted to a seven-month string of acceptance speeches for Pavan.

On Monday, Nebraska’s right-side All-American saw her name added to a prestigious list of female athletes honored not only for their achievements on the playing field but their team contributions, academic standing and community involvement.

Past winners include soccer superstar Mia Hamm, track and field legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee and volleyball’s own Misty May. This year’s finalists included Tennessee’s Monica Abbott (softball) and Candace Parker (basketball), Paula Infante of Maryland (field hockey) and Heather O’Reilly of North Carolina (soccer).

“When you look at the resume of the other finalists, that puts into perspective what an honor it is,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said. “The magnitude of this, it’s hard to put into words, but this is the biggest thing I’ve ever been around award-wise.”

Cook attended Monday’s ceremonies at Columbia University in New York City, as did NU athletic director Steve Pederson and members of Pavan’s family. Standing before the group of nearly 100, Pavan delivered what Cook said was a “great” acceptance speech, something he said she never would have been confident enough to deliver a few years ago.

Pavan acknowledged her teammates, fans, and university staff members for their support, including longtime NU senior woman administrator Barbara Hibner, who “would be really proud to see a Nebraska girl win this award,” she said.

Pavan is the first Husker to win the Honda-Broderick Cup, an honor that the Kitchener, Ontario, native said probably won’t sink in for several years.

“It’s Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Mia Hamm we’re talking about,” Pavan said. “I can’t think about how humbling it is to be included with those names.

“Winning the national championship is alone at the top, but as far as awards go, this surpasses everything.”

Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.