Leibold, Serritella Named Scholar-Athletes of the Week
Oct. 23, 2007
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INDIANAPOLIS - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior Robby Leibold (men's swimming) and Loyola University Chicago sophomore Alyse Serritella (volleyball) have been named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (Oct. 23).
Against MAC-Champion Eastern Michigan on Saturday (Oct. 20), Leibold posted three first-place finishes, as he won the 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle and the 200 butterfly. He earned second-place in the 500 freestyle and 1000 freestyle against Wright State on Friday (Oct. 19), while adding another runner-up finish in the 200 butterfly.
In the classroom, Leibold has earned recognition as a member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll and the Dean's Honor List at UWM. Last year, Leibold was named a member of the Academic All-League Team, as well as a two-time U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete. He carries a 3.845 grade-point average as a health sciences major.
Serritella set a Loyola single-match record with 36 digs and added an assist in a five-game victory at Bradley on October 16. Against League rival UIC, she recorded 15 digs and an assist in the four-game victory, as the Ramblers won a season-best three consecutive matches.
Academically, Serritella touts a 3.83 grade-point average as a secondary education and history major. She also helped Loyola earn a Game Plan/AVCA Team Academic Award in 2006-07.
The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution and passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours, and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.
OTHER MALE NOMINEES:
Tom Sadd, Cleveland State (soccer, senior, 3.78, marketing) scored his first goal of the season and fourth of his career in Friday's (Oct. 19) loss to Butler. His goal came in the 43rd minute to tie the match 1-1, but Butler rallied in the second half to win 2-1.
Kevin Harrigan, Loyola (soccer, junior, 3.45, mathematics) was a key member of a Loyola defense that posted shutout victories over Milwaukee and Green Bay last week, as the Ramblers have not allowed a goal since a 1-0 loss to No. 3 Northwestern on Sept. 26. With last week's wins, Loyola improved to 5-0-2 in League play, and secured the top seed for the Championship Tournament.
Steve Shively, Valparaiso (soccer, sophomore, 3.57, psychology/chemistry) scored the final goal of the match on Sunday (Oct. 21) against Michigan State, forcing a 1-1 draw against the 19th-ranked team in the nation. Shively's goal was a team-high fourth of the season, as all four of his goals have either tied or won matches for the Crusaders.
OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:
Michelle DeGeeter, Butler (volleyball, senior, 3.424, pharmacy) notched her team-leading 10th double-double of the season on Sunday (Oct. 21) with 13 kills and 11 digs while adding five block assists against UMKC. She tied for a team-high 22 kills over the weekend, and now ranks in Butler's top-10 in career block assists and total blocks.
Mel Snyder, Cleveland State (volleyball, senior, 3.81, middle childhood education) helped the Vikings to a 1-1 weekend in Wisconsin by averaging 12.67 assists and 3.11 digs per game as CSU lost at Milwaukee (3-2), and won at Green Bay (3-1). In Friday's loss to UWM, she finished with 52 assists, 15 digs, and three aces before coming back with another double-double against the Phoenix, totaling 62 assists and 13 digs in Saturday's match. Snyder is third in all-time assists at CSU with 3,662, and continues to lead the League in assists this season with 11.72 per match.
Abby Bersgma, Green Bay (volleyball, junior, 3.224, human biology) led Green Bay in total blocks (11.0), kills (26), attack percentage (.412) service aces (5) and points (37.5) over two matches last week. Against Youngstown State, she tied for the team-high in kills with 12, while hitting .579 for the match with only one error. She also had 19.0 points against YSU, with a match-high four aces and a match-high five blocks. Against CSU, she hit .312 and posted a team-high 14 kills.
Erin Kane, Milwaukee (soccer, junior, 3.352, pre-veterinary) helped the Panthers to three victories last week, as UWM claimed its eighth-straight Horizon League Regular Season Championship. She saved eight of the nine shots faced, and picked up all three wins in goal, tying the school record with 36 victories. Kane also set a school record for most career minutes played by a goalkeeper.
Erin Murray, Valparaiso (soccer, senior, 3.53, marketing) shutout Youngstown State and Cleveland State in back-to-back road matches last weekend. The shutouts were her fifth and sixth of the season, tying the school's single season record. Murray made five saves over the two matches in a 1-0 and 2-0 victory, with all of Valpo's goals coming in the second half. She now has 20 career shutouts, the most in Crusader history.
PREVIOUS U.S. ARMY SCHOLAR-ATHLETES:
Aug. 28Nina Inic (Butler, volleyball)
Sept. 5Ryan Miller (Green Bay, cross country); Liz Fazio (Cleveland State, volleyball)
Sept. 11Chris Honig (Valparaiso, cross country); Katarina Hanackova (UIC, volleyball)
Sept. 18Malcolm DeBaun (Loyola, soccer); Betty Slinger (Green Bay, volleyball)
Sept. 25Markian Zyga (Loyola, soccer); Sara Hughes (Valparaiso, volleyball)
Oct. 2Kent Wories (Butler, cross country); Ani Michl (Valparaiso, soccer)
Oct. 9Zeke Dombrowski (Milwaukee, soccer); Lotte Rasmussen (Green Bay, soccer)
Oct. 16Kent Wories (Butler, cross country); Amanda Stinson (Green Bay, soccer)
