Horizon League announces volleyball postseason awards

2010 All League Release

INDIANAPOLIS – Twenty-two individuals have earned 2010 Horizon League volleyball postseason honors. The list is highlighted by four specialty award winners -- Susie Johnson (Coach of the Year), Kerri Schuh (Player of the Year), Taylor Root (Defensive Player of the Year) and Rachel Neuberger (Newcomer of the Year).

Johnson earns the League’s top coaching award after guiding Milwaukee to a 20-8 overall record and 15-1 League mark. The Panthers have won the tournament title three times in the last four years under her direction.

Schuh, a junior from Appleton, Wis., is the Player of the Year after ranking third in the League in points per set (3.71), fifth in blocks (1.05) and seventh in kills (2.90). The right side hitter, a three-time Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week this season, helped Milwaukee take the 2010 regular season title.

Johnson, Schuh and the Panthers will host the 2010 Horizon League Volleyball Championship as a result of being this year’s No. 1 seed. The three-day event begins with two quarterfinal matches on Friday.

Root, a sophomore from Jenison, Mich., led the conference and ranks second in the nation in digs per set (5.82). The libero, a three-time HL Defensive Player of the Week, has helped Valparaiso to its ninth straight 20 or more win season. The Crusaders, 24-7 overall, have earned the tournament’s No. 3 seed after going 10-6 in conference action.

Neuberger, a freshman from Muskego, Wis., earned Newcomer-of-the-Year accolades after finishing fourth in the league in blocks (1.08) and eighth in hitting percentage (.274), helping Milwaukee to an 11-match winning streak dating back to Oct. 9.

Butler, Cleveland State and Milwaukee all have three All-League selections. Senior outside hitter Jessica Wolfe, junior middle blocker Maureen Bamiro, and senior defensive specialist Katie Daprile represent the Bulldogs on the team, while senior middle hitter Amy Benz, sophomore outside hitter Kara Koch and junior setter Jordan Goad stand for the Vikings.

Seniors setter Jena Berg and middle blocker Natalie Schmitting join Schuh for Milwaukee.

Valparaiso has two All-League picks this year. Junior setter Jenny Pokorny joins Root in representing the Crusaders.

The 14-person All-League group is rounded out by Green Bay senior setter Whitney Schott, UIC sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Safranek and Wright State senior middle blocker Shaunda Sandifer.

Wolfe led the League in kills (4.09) and points per set (4.58), while Goad ranked first in assists per set (10.46) and Schmitting led all players in blocks per set (1.16).

Wolfe, Benz and Sandifer earn All-League honors for the third time, while Goad, Berg, Root and Schmitting earn All-League accolades for a second year.

No. 3 Cleveland State and No. 6 UIC open the League championship on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET before No. 4 Valparaiso and No. 5 Green Bay square off in the second quarterfinal at 8:00 p.m.

Top-seeded Milwaukee will battle the lowest remaining seed in the first semifinal on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET before second-seeded Butler takes on the highest remaining seed in the second semifinal at 4:30 p.m.

The championship match is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, with the winner earning a spot in the 64-team NCAA Championship. All five tournament matches will be shown live on the Horizon League Network (www.horizonleague.com).

ALL-LEAGUE HONOREES
Kerri Schuh (Milwaukee)
Jessica Wolfe (Butler)
Jena Berg (Milwaukee)
Taylor Root (Valparaiso)
Maureen Bamiro (Butler)
Amy Benz (Cleveland State)
Jenny Pokorny (Valparaiso)
Kara Koch (Cleveland State)
Natalie Schmitting (Milwaukee)
Jordan Goad (Cleveland State)
Whitney Schott (Green Bay)
Shaunda Sandifer (Wright State)
Katie Daprile (Butler)
Kelsey Safranek (UIC)

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Rachel Neuberger (Milwaukee)
Sarah Dooms (Valparaiso)
Maggie Harbison (Butler)
Jackie Dabbelt (Cleveland State)
Elizabeth Egerer (Milwaukee)
Claire Randich (Butler)
Lyndsay Zabkowicz (Green Bay)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kerri Schuh (Milwaukee)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Taylor Root (Valparaiso)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Rachel Neuberger (Milwaukee)

COACH OF THE YEAR
Susie Johnson (Milwaukee)