Taylor Root Candidate for Senior CLASS Award

valpospartan · September 20, 2012, 09:45:02 PM

Taylor Root, Libero on the VB team, has been nominated for the Senior CLASS Award. http://www.valpoathletics.com/volleyball/news/2012-13/11995/root-candidate-for-senior-class-award/

crusadermoe · November 02, 2012, 10:10:53 AM

Seems to be one of Valpo's superstars!
Where and when is the Horizon Volleyball tourney. I want my VB playing daughters to tune in to a game or two on the webcasts. You might guess that I am not a "freshman" as my tag inexplicably says about me.

valporun · November 02, 2012, 11:17:21 AM

Quote from: crusadermoe on November 02, 2012, 10:10:53 AM
Seems to be one of Valpo's superstars!
Where and when is the Horizon Volleyball tourney. I want my VB playing daughters to tune in to a game or two on the webcasts. You might guess that I am not a "freshman" as my tag inexplicably says about me.

If I recall correctly, and looking at old schedules, the HL Volleyball tourney is hosted by the regular season conference champion.

VULB#62 · November 02, 2012, 11:43:15 AM

And dollars to donuts the HL Network will carry the games:

http://www.horizonleague.org

sliman · November 02, 2012, 12:13:09 PM

Based on a quick look at the Senior CLASS award site, it appears Taylor did not make the final 10. That's a disappointing oversight of a young woman who deserves more recognition on the national level than she receives.

LaPorteAveApostle · November 02, 2012, 12:20:46 PM

Bummer...I voted for her but didn't do it daily. If we all had, she probably would have made it

sliman · November 16, 2012, 07:52:25 PM

Although Taylor deserved it, she didn't make the final cut. Let's keep voting for Kyle in men's soccer so he doesn't also get overlooked.

vu72 · November 16, 2012, 08:48:55 PM

Quote from: sliman on November 16, 2012, 07:52:25 PM
Although Taylor deserved it, she didn't make the final cut. Let's keep voting for Kyle in men's soccer so he doesn't also get overlooked.

Has the voting stopped? I voted this morning but the vote site is now not on the Valpo sports website.

As for Taylor, if she isn't a full blown All American, then there is not justice. she now is fourth, I think, all time in NCAA history in digs, and a three time all conference Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year.

KL31NY · November 16, 2012, 10:08:17 PM

Don't know much about the history of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, but anyone think it's ridiculous that the 10 finalists consisted solely of outsides (9/10) and a middle blocker? No setters? No defensive specialists or liberos?

Over the recent seasons, I saw 10 of 30 candidates play at least once, most of them very deserving honorees, but only one of them (Purdue's senior sensation Ariel Turner) made the list of finalists. There were some incredible players, nay, incredible people who missed the cut, and Taylor is the biggest one in my opinion.

Oh well, there's always the rest of the Horizon League Tournament, then possibly the NCAAs and potential All-American honors to close out her wonderful college career.

KL31NY · November 17, 2012, 08:40:06 PM

Well, there goes that. Valpo loses a 2-0 lead and the match to UIC. Tough way to send out our seniors (Root and Mary Dent), who definitely deserved better than a hard-luck loss short of the finals.

KL31NY · December 13, 2012, 11:22:59 AM

Taylor Root has been named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American for the third time! She is the first Valpo volleyball player to receive such accolades, and she also ends her career 4th in NCAA history for career digs. Congrats on a fine career, we will miss you

vu72 · December 13, 2012, 05:26:48 PM

Quote from: KL31NY on December 13, 2012, 11:22:59 AM
Taylor Root has been named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American for the third time! She is the first Valpo volleyball player to receive such accolades, and she also ends her career 4th in NCAA history for career digs. Congrats on a fine career, we will miss you

If you mean she is the first to be named three times that is correct. She is not the first Valpo volleyball player to be named Honorable Mention All American. Angie Porche also earned this award. Don't know what you need to do to be named full fledged All American if being fourth all time can't do it!

KL31NY · December 13, 2012, 06:32:17 PM

Thanks for the clarification, vu72. I didn't do a good enough job emphasizing the "third time" qualifier.

A note, only two liberos reached full-fledged All-American (14 players a team, three All-America teams). Those two are Natalie Hagglund of USC and Kristen Hahn of Iowa State. Both programs made NCAA Regionals this year and are perennial postseason participants. Also got to see both of them in action this year, and even though it was only once a piece, they looked very good, especially Hahn.

Just based off my limited volleyball experience, it appears very tough for liberos and mid-major players to get their due. The fact that Taylor got HM AA nods for three straight years is very impressive and well deserved