Valparaiso, Milwaukee and Butler volleyball players earn AVCA All-Region Honors

Valparaiso sophomore libero Taylor Root, Milwaukee senior right side hitter Kerri Schuh and Butler senior outside hitter Jessica Wolfe have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Midwest Region team, while UWM freshman middle blocker Rachel Neuberger was named the region’s freshman of the year.

Root receives the All-Region acclamation after setting new single-season program and Horizon League records with 754 total digs on the season.  Her average of 5.94 digs per set leads all of NCAA Division I volleyball, as she is poised to become the first individual national statistical leader in Crusader volleyball history.

The Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and three-time league Defensive Player of the Week led or tied the Crusaders in all 34 matches she played in this season.

Schuh, the Horizon League Player of the Year, was an all-around performer all season for the Panthers. She tallied 16 double-figure kill outings and 19 double-figure dig efforts, with one 20-plus kill night and one 20-plus dig outing. She also collected seven or more blocks four times and had 11 double-doubles along with one triple-double.

The two-time Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week led the Panthers in kills while standing second on the team in digs and third in blocks.

Wolfe receives the honor for the second consecutive year and also earned All-America honors a season ago.  She led the Horizon League in kills and points for the second straight year and posted 4.12 kills, 3.18 digs and 4.63 points per set during her senior season, earning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week three times on the year.

The Horizon League Championship MVP currently ranks 26th in the nation in kills per set.

Neuberger, the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, started much of the season for the Panthers, while playing in 27 matches. She had four double-figure kill outings, hit .400 or better in seven matches and .500 or better five times. She also tallied seven or more blocks five times.

In league-only matches, Neuberger led the league in hitting percentage (.316) and blocks per set (1.34).

Also representing the Horizon League in receiving All-Region Honorable Mention are Valparaiso junior setter Jenny Pokorny, and Butler junior middle blocker Maureen Bamiro.

The AVCA will announce the All-America teams on Wednesday, Dec. 15.