University of Minnesota Athletics
Four Earn All-Region Honors
12/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota garnered four individuals to All-Region honors, while outside hitter Alexis Hart (Independence, Mo.) was named the North Region Freshman of the Year. It marks the second-straight year Minnesota has received a North Region Freshman of the Year, as Seliger-Swenson won the accolade in 2015.
Outside hitter Sarah Wilhite (Eden Prairie, Minn.), setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson (Minnetonka, Minn.), middle blocker/right-side hitter Hannah Tapp (Stewartville, Minn.) and Hart all received All-Region honors. It marks the first time for Wilhite and Hart and the second time for both Seliger-Swenson and Tapp. Minnesota also had regional honorable mentions for Molly Lohman (Mankato, Minn.) and Paige Tapp (Stewartville, Minn.).
Hart, a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, was named the North Region Freshman of the Year. In her rookie campaign, Hart ranks second on the team with 327 kills and averages 2.84 per set. Hart holds a .249 hitting clip, which ranks first among Big Ten freshmen. She also has 10 aces, 77 digs and 51 blocks. During her first year, Hart was also a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week recipient.
Seliger-Swenson, the Big Ten Setter of the Year, has 1,328 assists during her sophomore season. Seliger-Swenson has the Gophers hitting .293 as a team as they enter the NCAA Regionals this weekend. Minnesota has hit over .300 in 17 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.
Tapp, an All-Big Ten selection for the second straight year, ranks third on the Gophers in kills (303), kills per set (2.71) and blocks per set (1.04). During her senior season, Tapp has hit over .300 in 16 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.
Wilhite, the Big Ten Player of the Year, has a team-best 481 kills and averages 4.18 kills per set. Hitting .296 as a senior, Wilhite ranks second on the team in digs (302) and aces (28). 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 23 times and hit over .300 18 times this year.
