Valparaiso sophomore libero Taylor Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) has been recognized by the Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com) as one of its Top Performers from last week after being named the Most Valuable Player at the CEFCU Classic, hosted by Bradley.  In addition, the sophomore is ranked second in the nation in digs/set, as the NCAA released its first statistics report of the 2010 season today.

Root, who was named a CVU.com Rising Star after last season for her performance as a freshman, averaged an even 6.00 digs/set over four matches last week for the Crusaders.  She opened the week with 21 digs in a non-league sweep of Indiana State before heading to Bradley and posting 19 digs against Presbyterian, 16 digs versus Hofstra and 22 digs against the host Braves to help Valpo to the tournament title.  Root, who led all players in digs in all four contests, also tallied 11 assists and seven aces on the week, including four service aces in the sweep of Hofstra.

Root, who has twice been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week this year already and has two All-Tournament honors to her credit this season, is now averaging 6.05 digs/set through 11 matches, second nationally behind only Yale’s Kelly Ozurovich, who is posting 6.15 digs/set.  The Crusaders as a team are sixth nationally in digs/set (18.17) and 16th in winning percentage (.909), while freshman Ariel Cudney (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) sits 24th in the nation with 0.56 service aces/set.