Valparaiso sophomore libero Taylor Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) has been named one of the Top Five Liberos of 2010 by the Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com) after her record-setting campaign.

Root anchored the back row as Valparaiso, named CVU’s Deep Digging Team of the Year last week, finished fourth in the nation in digs/set.  The sophomore set new school and Horizon League single-season records with 754 total digs and led the NCAA with 5.94 digs/set.  Root, the Horizon League’s Defensive Player of the Year, was an AVCA All-Midwest Region honoree and earned Honorable Mention All-American accolades as well in 2010.

Over the course of the season, Root tied or outright led the Crusaders in digs in all 34 of her matches.  The sophomore led all players in digs on 22 occasions and registered at least 20 digs in 25 matches.  Along the way, Root garnered three HL Defensive Player of the Week honors, three All-Tournament Team accolades, including MVP honors at the Bradley Invitational, and was a three-time CVU weekly Top Performer.