Spangenberg and Bright Named All-Patriot League
11/14/2017 4:09:00 PM | Volleyball
PATRIOT LEAGUE RELEASE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two members of the Lehigh volleyball team earned selections to the 14-member All-Patriot League team as the league announced its All-League team and major award winners Tuesday afternoon. Ana Spangenberg earned first-team honors, while Lauren Bright garnered second-team accolades.
Spangenberg and Bright have both compiled break-out seasons as full-time starters in 2017 in their sophomore campaigns. The duo has lead Lehigh (18-12, 9-7) to a turnaround season and a return trip to the Patriot League postseason for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
Spangenberg has been the main offensive threat for the Mountain Hawks this season with a team-high 388 kills with a 3.66 kills-per-set average, while hitting .255 on the year. She also ranks second on the team with 66 total blocks. The right-side hitter ranks second in the Patriot League in total kills and third in kills per set.
The Pittsburgh native has recorded 20-plus kills on four different occasions and 25-plus two different times this season, including a career-high 26 kills in a five-set victory over Navy in the final home match of the season. Spangenberg has posted six double-doubles this season in kills and digs, and has posted double-digit kills in 23 of 30 matches on the year.
Bright has been a key two-way contributor this season from her middle blocker position during her first two seasons. The sophomore has led the team in blocks per set in each of the last two seasons, while also recording over 100 kills in each season. This season, Bright ranks third in the league with 114 total blocks and ranks fourth with a 1.08 blocks-per-set average.
The Minnesota native ranks eight in the league with a .312 hitting percentage with a 1.85 kills-per-set average for a total of 196 kills on the season. She has posted seven or more kills in 16 matches and hit double-figures four different times.
Spangenberg and Bright will lead No. 4 seeded Lehigh into a Patriot League semifinal matchup with No. 1 seed American on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The winner will advance to the championship match on Sunday at 3 p.m. to face the winner of the Army-Navy semifinal match.
2017 Patriot League Volleyball Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Aleksandra Kazala, American, Jr., OH
Setter of the Year: Patricia Mattingly, Navy, Jr., Setter
Libero of the Year: Kristen Largay, American, So., L
Rookie of the Year: Alli Lowe, Colgate, Fr., OH
Coach of the Year: Larry Bock, Navy
All-Patriot League First Team
Aleksandra Kazala, American, Jr., OH
Carolyn Bockrath, Army West Point, Sr., MB
Vanessa Wesley, Army West Point, Jr., MB
Alli Lowe, Colgate, Fr., OH
Ana Spangenberg, Lehigh, So. RS
Tara Dotzauer, Navy, Sr. OPP
Patricia Mattingly, Navy, Jr., S
All-Patriot League Second Team
Kennedy Etheridge, American, Jr., S
Vela McBride, American, So., MB
Helena Elbaek, American, Fr., OH
Amber Clay, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Mimi Richards, Bucknell, So., MB
Lauren Bright, Lehigh, So., MB
Katie Patrick, Navy, Jr., MB
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two members of the Lehigh volleyball team earned selections to the 14-member All-Patriot League team as the league announced its All-League team and major award winners Tuesday afternoon. Ana Spangenberg earned first-team honors, while Lauren Bright garnered second-team accolades.
Spangenberg and Bright have both compiled break-out seasons as full-time starters in 2017 in their sophomore campaigns. The duo has lead Lehigh (18-12, 9-7) to a turnaround season and a return trip to the Patriot League postseason for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
Spangenberg has been the main offensive threat for the Mountain Hawks this season with a team-high 388 kills with a 3.66 kills-per-set average, while hitting .255 on the year. She also ranks second on the team with 66 total blocks. The right-side hitter ranks second in the Patriot League in total kills and third in kills per set.
The Pittsburgh native has recorded 20-plus kills on four different occasions and 25-plus two different times this season, including a career-high 26 kills in a five-set victory over Navy in the final home match of the season. Spangenberg has posted six double-doubles this season in kills and digs, and has posted double-digit kills in 23 of 30 matches on the year.
Bright has been a key two-way contributor this season from her middle blocker position during her first two seasons. The sophomore has led the team in blocks per set in each of the last two seasons, while also recording over 100 kills in each season. This season, Bright ranks third in the league with 114 total blocks and ranks fourth with a 1.08 blocks-per-set average.
The Minnesota native ranks eight in the league with a .312 hitting percentage with a 1.85 kills-per-set average for a total of 196 kills on the season. She has posted seven or more kills in 16 matches and hit double-figures four different times.
Spangenberg and Bright will lead No. 4 seeded Lehigh into a Patriot League semifinal matchup with No. 1 seed American on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The winner will advance to the championship match on Sunday at 3 p.m. to face the winner of the Army-Navy semifinal match.
2017 Patriot League Volleyball Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Aleksandra Kazala, American, Jr., OH
Setter of the Year: Patricia Mattingly, Navy, Jr., Setter
Libero of the Year: Kristen Largay, American, So., L
Rookie of the Year: Alli Lowe, Colgate, Fr., OH
Coach of the Year: Larry Bock, Navy
All-Patriot League First Team
Aleksandra Kazala, American, Jr., OH
Carolyn Bockrath, Army West Point, Sr., MB
Vanessa Wesley, Army West Point, Jr., MB
Alli Lowe, Colgate, Fr., OH
Ana Spangenberg, Lehigh, So. RS
Tara Dotzauer, Navy, Sr. OPP
Patricia Mattingly, Navy, Jr., S
All-Patriot League Second Team
Kennedy Etheridge, American, Jr., S
Vela McBride, American, So., MB
Helena Elbaek, American, Fr., OH
Amber Clay, Army West Point, Sr., OH
Mimi Richards, Bucknell, So., MB
Lauren Bright, Lehigh, So., MB
Katie Patrick, Navy, Jr., MB
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
RS
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