University of Minnesota Athletics
Three Gophers Named All-Americans
12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The American Volleyball Coaches Association has announced that Sarah Wilhite (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Samantha Seliger-Swenson (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Hannah Tapp (Stewartville, Minn.) have been named All-Americans, today, in conjunction with the start of the NCAA Championships. Wilhite and Seliger-Swenson were announced as First Team All-American, and Tapp on the Second Team. It marks the first All-America accolade for Wilhite and the second for Seliger-Swenson and Tapp. Alexis Hart and Molly Lohman were given honorable mention.
Seliger-Swenson, the Big Ten Setter of the Year, received First-Team All-America honors. In her second year, she has 1,415 assists. Seliger-Swenson has the Gophers hitting .293 as a team as they enter the NCAA National Semifinals this weekend. Minnesota has hit over .300 in 18 matches this season. She accomplished a season-best 66 assists against Iowa and seven kills against Michigan earlier this season. She also garnered four Big Ten Setter of the Week honors and was named to the NCAA Region All-Tournament.
Tapp, an All-Big Ten selection for the second straight year, received Second Team All-America honors. She ranks third on the Gophers in kills (324), kills per set (2.72) and blocks per set (1.06). During her senior season, Tapp has hit over .300 in 17 matches this season. She also garnered Big Ten Defensive Player once this year. She established career bests in attempts (40 vs. Stanford), kills (20 vs. North Dakota) during her final Gopher season. Tapp received First Team All-America honors as a junior last season.
Wilhite, the Big Ten Player of the Year, received her first All-America accolade, landing a spot on the First Team. She has a team-best 512 kills and averages 4.20 kills per set. Hitting .293 as a senior outside hitter, Wilhite ranks second on the team in digs (314) and aces (29). The four-time Big Ten Player of the Week and recipient of AVCA National Player of the Week, Wilhite has led the Gophers in match kills 26 times and hit over .300 19 times this year.
Hart, a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, was named the North Region Freshman of the Year and added All-America honorable mention. In her rookie campaign, Hart ranks second on the team with 348 kills and averages 2.85 per set. Hart holds a .251 hitting clip, which ranks first among Big Ten freshmen. She also has 10 aces, 82 digs and 54 blocks. During her first year, Hart was also a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week recipient.
Lohman, named All-Big Ten honorable mention and North Region honorable mention, earned an All-America honorable mention accolade. The junior middle blocker ranks first on the team in blocks and blocks per set (169, 1.39). Lohman is also fifth in kills, with 217 on the season and 1.78 per set hitting .368, the highest percentage out of the Gophers starters.
