Friday, February 18, 2011

Seniors Val Bollenbacher (Bremen, Ind./Bremen) and Katie Layman (LaPorte, Ind./New Prairie) were joined by sophomore Taylor Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) as Valparaiso placed three athletes on the 2010 Horizon League Academic All-League Team in volleyball.

Bollenbacher appeared in 34 matches in her final season as a Crusader, seeing action on the right side and in the back row.  The fifth-year senior finished the year third on the team in assists and fourth in digs, finishing with double-figure digs on 13 occasions, including nine times against league opponents.  Bollenbacher, who carries a 3.900 GPA in the nurse practitioner graduate program, has earned Horizon League Academic Honor Roll mention each semester eligible and has also received Presidential academic honors during her time at Valpo.

Layman also appeared 34 times in her final year in the Valpo volleyball program, starting the vast majority of the matches at middle hitter.  She finished her senior season second on the team in blocks, third in hitting percentage and fourth in kills.  A defensive presence at the net, she ranked eighth in league-only play in blocks/set and closed her career tenth all-time in Valpo history in blocks.  Layman, who carries a 3.756 cumulative GPA as a communication law and political science major, has joined Bollenbacher on the league's Academic Honor Roll each semester eligible and has also received Presidential academic honors during her time at Valpo.

Root picks up the Academic All-League honor after being named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year.  An AVCA All-Midwest Region and Honorable Mention All-American recipient, Root led the nation with 5.94 digs/set and set new Crusader and Horizon League single-season digs records.  Root, who paced the Crusaders in digs in all 34 matches she appeared in, is an elementary education major with a 3.512 cumulative GPA.