Sophomore libero Taylor Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) has been named to the Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com) Stellar Spikers First Team, one of just 14 players so honored nationwide, after her record-setting 2010 season.

Root anchored the back row as Valparaiso, named CVU’s Deep Digging Team of the Year last month, 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.

CVU chooses its first and second teams, both made up of 14 players, around the idea of building a team with a starting lineup of seven players and then choosing two players per starting slot to fill out each team.  CVU also then chooses 75 Honorable Mention selections as well.

Root was one of just four sophomore selections on the First Team, joining Hawai’i middle Brittany Hewitt, Tulsa outside Tyler Henderson and Tulsa setter Jordan Clampitt.  She was also the only Horizon League player honored on either the first or second teams, while only two other league players earned honorable mention status.