For the third consecutive season, Valparaiso senior libero Taylor Root (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) has been named an Honorable Mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Root becomes the first player in Valpo volleyball history to receive the national accolade three times.

Root, who was eligible for All-America honors after receiving the third All-Region nod of her career last week, earns her third Honorable Mention All-America accolade after being named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year for a third consecutive year. The senior closed out her Crusader career fourth in NCAA history in career digs with 2,752 digs, and this season ranks 11th nationally with 5.70 digs/set. Her 735 total digs on the season are third-most in a single year in Valpo history, giving her three of the top four single-season totals all-time at Valpo. Root also enjoyed her best season on serve receive of her career in 2012, committing just 17 serve reception errors in 33 matches.