Valparaiso freshman libero Taylor Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) has been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this year, the league office announced today.

Root registered a league-high 55 digs last week over the Crusaders’ three matches.  The freshman started the week with a match-high 22 digs in a non-league sweep of IUPUI and then posted 17 digs in a four-set contest at Cleveland State.  Root closed the week with a match-best 16 digs in a sweep over Wright State.

On the week, Root averaged 5.50 digs/set, increasing her season average to an even 5.00 digs/set, tops in the Horizon League.  Her 430 digs on the year are just 30 away from breaking into Valpo’s single-season top-ten efforts in the category.  With the weekly honor, Root is again eligible for the Horizon League Network’s ‘The People’s Choice’ honor.  Fans can vote for Root by visiting www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv and voting in ‘The People’s Choice’ poll on the right-hand side of the page thru Tuesday afternoon.