Nov. 19, 2008
Contact: Greg Murphy
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State sophomore Amy Benz has been selected to the All-Horizon League first team, while freshman Jordan Goad has been named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer team in voting conducted by the league's nine head coaches.
The official announcement was made on Wednesday (Nov. 19) afternoon by the league office.
"I am happy for both Amy and Jordan because their selections show how much respect they have earned from the coaches in the league," head coach Chuck Voss said. "Both players have been very consistent all season and are very deserving of their selections."
Benz (Tiffin, Ohio), who is making her second straight appearance on the first team, is ranked third in the league in blocks (1.02) and sixth in hitting percentage (.273). The 6-foot-3 middle hitter ranks third on the team with 218 kills. Benz, who has made 103 blocks this season, is ranked eighth in school history for block assists (250) and ninth in total blocks (287). Her .306 career attack percentage is fourth all-time in program history.
Goad (Toledo, Ohio) began the season as CSU's backup setter, but earned the starting nod in the third match of the season. She proceeded to finish second in the Horizon League in assists (9.91) and sixth in service aces (0.28). Goad, who ranks third on the team with 169 digs, tallied four double-doubles this season, including a career-high 60 assists and 12 digs in a five-set win over Wright State on Oct. 25.
CSU returns to action on Friday (Nov. 21) night when the sixth-seeded Vikings host third-seeded Wright State in a quarterfinal match in Woodling Gym at 7:30 p.m. The winner of that match will advance to Saturday's (Nov. 22) 3:00 p.m. semifinal against either second-seeded Valparaiso or seventh-seeded Green Bay.
The championship match is slated for Sunday (Nov. 23) at 12:00 p.m.
ALL-LEAGUE HONOREES
Angie Porche (Valparaiso)
Becky Peters (Milwaukee)
Brittany Malicoat (Valparaiso)
Shaunda Sandifer (Wright State)
Porshia Allen (Butler)
Maddie Sueppel (Milwaukee)
Sarah Singer (Loyola)
Amy Benz (Cleveland State)
Kim Bukowski (Valparaiso)
Jessica Wolfe (Butler)
Lizzy Gunn (Wright State)
Lauren Felsing (Milwaukee)
Megan Elfering (Green Bay)
Allison Sears (Valparaiso)
ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
Kelsey Labrum (Butler)
Jordan Goad (Cleveland State)
Kerri Schuh (Milwaukee)
Michelle Hammond (Wright State)
Melissa Joyce (Green Bay)
Samantha Trawitzke (Milwaukee)
Leilani Tafuna (Wright State)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Angie Porche (Valparaiso)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brittany Malicoat (Valparaiso)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Labrum (Butler)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Susie Johnson (Milwaukee)
